Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
Welcome Centre International reference guide
Guide for international researchers, guest professors, post-doctoral and doctoral researchers
Science for Society
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg Greetings from the President and the Vice President for International Affairs
Dear colleagues and guests from around the world,
We are delighted that you have decided to con- help you settle into your new city and to feel at duct your research or teaching at the University home at our university. That way you can concen- of Würzburg and would like to welcome you to trate on your work and research while also find- our Alma Mater. ing time to enjoy the many leisure and cultural activities which make life in Würzburg and Main- Our university, founded in 1402, has not only franken so enjoyable. a long tradition and a variety of subjects, but also offers many innovative research projects Networking as well as life-long friendships and international cooperation opportunities. In- should not only be established but also cultivat- ternational university rankings, its many special ed and maintained. We would like to invite you to research fields, graduate schools and research join our “Alma Julia” and become a member of teams prove its academic reputation. JMU has our Alumni Network and the associated Alumni recently been awarded a Cluster of Excellence Society. Through our Alumni Association you will within Germany’s Excellence Strategy. always be up to date with important activities and new projects at the university and you can Academic exchange and dynamic contact maintain contact with colleagues on a long-term with excellent international researchers are es- basis. sential for the success of any university. There- fore, we would like to say how pleased we are We wish you and your family a successful and that you have decided to come to our university. enriching time at the University of Würzburg and in our beautiful city. International mobility is connected with ex- citing new experiences and enriching contacts but – at least at the beginning of a stay abroad – also with some organisational challenges. Prof. Dr. Alfred Forchel Prof. Baris Kabak President of the Vice-President for Inter- The goal of this welcome guide is to make University of Würzburg nalisation, Alumni and your stay easier by giving you an overview of the Public Relations of the various consulting and service offers at the uni- University of Würzburg versity. Nevertheless, if you have further ques- tions or should problems arise, please do not hesitate to contact our Welcome Centre. The staff will be more than happy to give you advice and to
Welcome to the University of Würzburg 3 Contents
The Welcome Centre 6 2.11.2. Applying for Parenting Benefit The Julius-Maximilians-Universität: (“Elterngeld”) 32 A history of success 8 2.11.3. Applying for Child Benefit (“Kindergeld”) 32 2.12. Driving Licence 33 1Before Arrival 12 1.1. Checklist 12 1.2. Cost of Living 12 3Support Services and Facilities 34 1.3. Employment Contract 12 3.1. Service Centre International Affairs 34 1.4. Important Documents 14 3.1.1. International Students Office 34 1.5. Visa 15 3.1.2. Tutoring Services 34 1.6. Social Security and Insurances 15 3.2. Office of the Women’s Representative 34 1.6.1. General Information on Social Security 15 3.2.1. Counselling Services 34 1.6.2. Health Insurance 16 3.2.2. Gender Consulting in Research 1.6.3. Possible Supplementary Insurances 18 Networks of the GermanResearch 1.7. Finding Accommodation 20 Foundation (DFG) 35 1.7.1. University Guesthouse 20 3.3. Office of Family Support 36 1.7.2. Siebold Collegium 20 3.3.1. University Day Care Centre “Campus Kinderhaus” 36 2After Arrival 22 3.3.2. Babysitter Service 37 2.1. Checklist 22 3.3.3. Holiday Programmes 38 2.2. Registration at the Citizens’ Office 3.4. Student Services 38 (“Bürgerbüro”) 22 3.4.1. University Canteens 39 2.3. Setting up a Bank Account 24 3.4.2. Discounts for Visiting Guest 2.4. Applying for a Residence and Work Permit 24 Researchers 39 2.5. Company Pension Scheme (VBL) 26 3.5. University of Würzburg Graduate Schools 39 2.6. Job Ticket 26 3.6. Career Services and ProfiLehre 41 2.7. Rental Contract 27 3.7. Mentoring Programmes 41 2.8. Phone and Internet 29 3.7.1. Mentoring Programmes for 2.9. Television Licence Fees (“Rundfunkbeitrag”) 29 Male and Female Researchers 41 2.10. Taxes 29 3.7.2. M entoring Programmes for 2.10.1. Tax Identification Number 29 Female Researchers 42 2.10.2. Tax Obligation 30 3.8. Research Funding Support: 2.10.3. Changing Your Tax Bracket 30 SFT and RAC 42 2.11. Bringing Family 31 3.9. Language Centre 44 2.11.1. Applying to Bring Your Family 31 3.9.1. German as a Foreign Language 44 Imprint
3.9.2. Face 2 Face Programme and Editor the Mediothek 45 Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg 3.10. Computer Centre 46 The President: Prof. Dr. Alfred Forchel 3.10.1. JMU User Account (Novell) and E-Mail 46 Editorial Staff 3.10.2. JMU Card 46 Welcome Centre Sanderring, 97070 Würzburg 3.10.3. Computer Courses and Online www.uni-wuerzburg.de/welcomecentre Resources 47 and 3.10.4. IT Support 47 Public Relations 3.11. University Library 47 Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg 3.11.1. Ordering and Borrowing Media Sanderring 2, 97070 Würzburg www.presse.uni-wuerzburg.de (loan service for faculty) 48 and 3.12. Sport and Fitness 48 University of Würzburg Graduate Schools 3.12.1. Sports Centres and Facilities 48 Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080 Würzburg 3.12.2. Courses 51 Photos 3.12.3. Costs and Registration 51 Public Relations More picture credits at the photos in the book 4Life in Würzburg 52 Coverphoto: Elmar Hahn 4.1. Public Transport 52 Layout 4.1.1. Trains and Long-Distance Buses 52 Barbara Knievel 4.1.2. Buses and Trams 52 Typesetting 4.1.3. Connecting to the university 52 SatzKorrektur Mechtild Hasse-Riedesel 4.2. Events and Leisure Time Activities 53 Printing 4.3. “F oreign Scientist Uni Würzburg” 54 Schleunungdruck GmbH, Marktheidenfeld 4.4. Museums, Galleries, Music and Theatres 54 4.4.1. Museums and Galleries 54 4.4.2. Classical Music 57 4.4.3. Theatres 57
4.5. Tourist Destinations 58 ID-Nr. 1876689
5Checklist: Before Departure 60 with support from the DAAD program “STIBET Doktoranden” 6Alumni Network 62 The Welcome Centre
The Welcome Centre is the central point of ser- tions and provide information on the following vice for newly appointed professors, internation- topics: al postdocs and guest professors before and Signing up for health insurance during their stay at the University of Würzburg. Opening a bank account The Welcome Centre strives to make it easier Applying for a residence and work permit, for you to settle into Würzburg, have a good start bringing family to Germany at your job and feel comfortable at the university. Applying for statutory benefits As a family friendly university we consider the (e.g. child benefits) promotion of a good work-life balance very im- portant. The Centre therefore offers assistance Accompaniment to the Local Authorities for you and your family with general administra- In case of problems, complex questions or langu tive and practical issues relating to your employ- age difficulties, someone from the Welcome Cen- ment and your move to Würzburg. The staff will tre can accompany you to the local authorities. also gladly help with individual concerns. Information on Language Classes The Centre can inform you of language classes, Advisory and Support Services relevant events and networking opportunities. Searching for a Flat The Welcome Centre can help you in your flat Support for Dual Career Questions search with information on the local housing mar- The staff offers support for the partners of newly ket. Even though the staff cannot offer any reloca- appointed professors by facilitating orientation tion services, they can help to establish contact to on the local labour market. They cannot offer any landlords and assist you with arranging a place to placement services, but will be happy to provide stay for your first few days in Germany. in formation on potential employment opportuni- ties and establish contact to regional companies. Information on Childcare The staff is well connected with local childcare fa- Online registration cilities and schools and can give advice on differ- To be able to support you efficiently the Welcome ent offers and registration procedures. Centre needs your input. If you are an interna- tional scientist coming to Germany from abroad, Information on Würzburg please send them an e-mail with your questions The Centre provides information on life in Würz well before the start of your stay and register with burg, leisure opportunities and cultural events. the Welcome Centre online at: www.uni-wuerzburg.de/welcomecentre Help with Administrative Matters In case of questions contact: The staff can help you with administrative ques- [email protected]
6 The medieval Fortress Marienberg located on the shore of the river Main Bild: Jakob Dombrowski Bild: Jakob
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 7 The Julius-Maximilians-Universität: A history of success
The Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) has a Newly-designed degree programmes, a steadily long tradition dating back as far as 1402 and was growing influx of students and many new re- the sixth institution of higher education to be search activities continue to drive the growth of founded in the German-speaking regions of Eu- the institution’s infrastructure. In 2011, the univer- rope. Many eminent scholars and scientists, in- sity expanded to include the newly set-up Campus cluding 14 Nobel Laureates, have been working Nord, a 39-hectare area next to Hubland Campus. during their professional career at JMU. Among those are Rudolf Virchow, Carl von Siebold, Franz Research Centres as a Trademark Bretano, Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, Klaus von In the 1990s already the university began found Klitzing and Harald zur Hausen, to name just a ing cross-faculty research areas and opening up few. Having grown over more than six centuries, new research areas and possibilities for innova- the JMU of Würzburg offers a wide range of sub- tive degree programmes. These interdisciplinary jects. In addition to th classic four – medicine, centres, for example the Research Centre for In- theology, philosophy and law – far more than 200 fectious Diseases and the Biocentre, have be- degree programmes are offered now. Recent ones come internationally prominent trademarks of include Nanostructure Technology, Biomedicine, the University of Würzburg. The scientific stand- Modern China, Digital Humanities, Human Fac- ing of the university also shows itself in its nu- tors in Computing Systems, and Museology. merous collaborative research activities funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG): The university comprises ten faculties: Würzburg scientists have continuously been able to raise funding for collaborative research Catholic Theology centres, research training groups and research Law units against tough competition. In 2002, the University of Würzburg launched one of the three Medicine Centres of Excellence funded by the DFG across Liberal Arts: Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Germany: the Rudolf Virchow Centre / Centre for Historical Sciences, Geography Experimental Biomedicine. Furthermore, the University of Würzburg established collabora- Human Sciences tions with renowned research facilities like the Biology Fraunhofer institutes and the Max Planck socie- Chemistry and Pharmacy ty. The Helmholtz institute for RNA based infec- tion Research (HIRI), founded 2017, is situated at Mathematics and Computer Science the university hospital and sets an example for Physics and Astronomy the numerous inter-institutonial collaborations. All those activities have pushed the universi- Business Management and Economics ty into the top tier of German academic research
8 The Old University – home of the Faculty of Law Bild: Elmar Hahn Bild: Elmar
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 9 institutions. On an international level, the uni- tre in 2017. Many more buildings are under con- versity also ranks among the top in many scien- struction or being planned. tific disciplines including biology, chemistry, medicine, physics and psychology. New build- Success in the Excellence Strategy ings such as the Institute for Topological Insula- The aim of the Excellence Strategy is to strength- tors (ITI) set new milestones in the excellence en Germany’s position as an outstanding place strategy of the university. for research in the long term and further improve its international competitiveness. It continues Promoting the Next Generation the development of German universities suc- The university regards the promotion of junior cessfully begun with the Excellence Initiative by academics as an essential responsibility. Estab- supporting research of the highest standard, en- lishing its graduate schools in 2006 constituted hancing research profiles, and facilitating co another milestone in this endeavour. These insti- operation in the research system. Würzburg has tutions provide doctoral candidates and post- successfully applied for one of the most com docs with the appropriate structures and formats petitive excellence cluster and established the to continue and enhance their training and edu- Dresden-Würzburg Center for Topological Quan- cation. New facilities like the Graduate School for tum Matter Research in cooperation with TU Dres Life Sciences (GSLS), inaugurated 2018 on Cam- den. pus Hubland Nord, provide optimal educational and learning requirements.
University Hospital: Excellent Medical Care and Top-Level Research Medical education, research and the treatment of patients are so closely intertwined here that the patients always profit from the latest devel- opments in medical therapy. The hospital has been placed 14 out of 2,000 hospitals through- out Germany (FOCUS Ranking, 2018). Every year, the University Hospital provides in-patient treat- ment for around 55,000 people and takes care of 230,000 out-patients. A new Centre for Operative Medicine (ZOM) was opened on the expanded Medical Campus in 2004. This was followed in 2009 by the new Centre for Internal Medicine (ZIM) and the Comprehensive Heart Failure Cen-
10 The Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB) and the Rudolf Virchow Center (RVZ) of JMU: At this place the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based infection Research (HIRI) was established in May 2017 as a partnership between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and JMU. © Universität Würzburg © Universität
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 11 Before Arrival 1
1.1. Checklist 1.2. Cost of Living 1. Clarify the specifics of your job with your host The cost of food, clothing, cultural events and institute gastronomy in Germany is comparable to the Eu- 2. Newly appointed professors, guest professors ropean average. and international post-doctoral researchers, Current prices to be expected in Würzburg: please register online with the Würzburg Uni- www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/wurzburg versity Welcome Centre International students or doctoral researchers 3. Put together the most important documents can manage with a monthly budget of ¤ 800 to you will need to apply for a visa (if applicable) ¤ 1000, assuming they are content with moder- and to arrange your employment contract (in- ately priced accommodations, e.g. shared flats cluding potential translations and certified or subsidized student accommodations. copies) More on students’ monthly expenses: 4. Apply for a visa (if applicable): The applica- www.study-in.de/en w plan your stay w money tion process can take weeks or even months. & costs w cost of living It is strongly recommended to apply for a visa If, however, you are an international researcher for yourself, and any family members accom- with higher qualification levels, you should plan panying you, as soon as possible. for much more, especially if you would like to 5. Inform yourself on applying for and receiving bring your family with you. Additional costs, health care among other things, should be included for: 6. Find accommodation in Würzburg A larger flat, possibly a house 7. If your children are accompanying you contact Public transportation or a private car the Campus-Kinderhaus and register online Higher health care 8. Get in touch with a tutor if you need help in the first few days of your stay in Germany Newly appointed professors from abroad 1.3. Employment Contract are invited to contact the Welcome Centre It is essential to discuss the starting date and and arrange an individual appointment. duration of your research stay, as well as the nec- International doctoral and post-doctoral essary steps to conclude an employment con- researchers can also use the services of tract, with your host institute. Contact the person the International Office, such as the tutor- responsible for you at the Service Centre Human ing service, instead of the Welcome Centre. Resources of the university as soon as possible You will find information regarding all of these before your departure in order to clarify which topics in the following chapters. documents, in which form, are required. You will have to fill in and submit some documents be- fore your arrival in Würzburg so that upon arrival you can sign the employment contract. It is very
12 important that you do not arrive on the day your however, can also be acquired and handed in work officially begins. You should plan to arrive after the arrival in Germany: at least a week in advance in order to take care of Proof of health insurance (see chapter 1.6.) all required paperwork and formalities so that Social security card or proof of its application your first day of work goes smoothly and trouble- (see chapter 1.6.) free. Occupational medical examination (“Einstel- You should have the following documents lungsuntersuchung”): The examination is con either as an officially certified copy or as the origi- ducted free of charge by the university’s Me nal with single copies. If the documents are in lan- dical Services (“Betriebsärztlicher Dienst”), guages other than German or English, they must Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, Building D4. have been translated by an official translator. Additional forms must be filled in which you will University diplomas such as Bachelor, Master receive from the Service Centre Human Resourc- etc. plus “transcript of records” or “diploma es. The institutes, the Service Centre Human Re- supplement” sources and the Welcome Centre will gladly help Doctoral Degree Certificate you through the process. Habilitation Certificate (if applicable) Proof of work experience with exact dates and Please note: The Service Centre Human Resourc- classifications in order to account for time es will compare foreign degrees with their Ger- spent in public service man equivalents to determine your eligibility for Marriage certificate and birth certificate of a position and your salary. The admission of children (if applicable) doctoral researchers to the academic programme Birth certificate if the family status is “Un- also depends on these documents. Here the married” screening is done by the International Office. The Criminal Record category “O” (German cate- reference used for such comparisons is the data- gorization): Employees in public service must base “ANABIN” (only in German: anabin.kmk.org). prove before beginning employment that they If a foreign degree cannot be found in the data- do not have any previous convictions. If nec- base, it must be reviewed by the Central Office essary, such a certificate must be obtained for Foreign Education in Bonn, which usually from the responsible authority in the home takes many weeks. Under certain circumstances country and translated into either German or this could delay the enrolment of doctoral re- English if not already in one of these languag- searchers. Regarding international researchers es. The confirmation must not be older than with an employment contract, immediate employ- three months at the start of employment. ment is still possible in such cases. The categ o rization into the proper salary group is however The Service Centre Human Resources also nor- only possible after all certificates and pieces of mally requires the following information, which, information have been submitted. Potential
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 13 Before Arrival 1
finan cial loss up to this point will be retroactively The nature of the employment contract or paid once all certificates have been received. other forms of remuneration (fellowship) In addition to the university degree, previous Information on salary group and number work experience also plays an important role in of working hours (if applicable) categorising you into a specific salary group. Statement on how social security and Copies of all past employment contracts at home health insurance will be provided and abroad are required. Alternatively, a certifi- 4. Verification regarding financing your stay cate from your past employers with original sig- Invitation letter, afterwards employment nature and seal listing your previous activities contract (duration, salary and hours per week) is also or confirmation from your scholarship pro- considered sufficient. vider regarding the length and monthly amount of your scholarship 5. Confirmation from your health insurance that 1.4. Important Documents you are insured for the complete duration of In addition to the required certificates and docu- your stay in Germany (in English or German) ments listed in chapter 1.3., you should also put New employees usually travel to Germany together the following documents as soon as with a travel health insurance and obtain possible. They will be important for either your health insurance from a German provider, if visa application, the application for your resi- they enter into a regular employment contract dence and work permit or for both. with the university, within the first few days after arrival. 1. Passport, valid for the entire duration of your 6. Multiple biometric passport photos stay 7. Copies (and, if necessary, translations) of in- 2. Entry visa (also for your family members) surance documents 3. Invitation letter from your host institute which 8. Immunisation record, if available, as well as precisely explains which activities you will be other important medical documents and re- doing at the university and in what form you cords regarding medication currently being will be remunerated and insured. The invita- taken (if necessary) tion letters should include the following infor- 9. Internationally recognized driving license (if mation: applicable) Your complete name with date of birth 10. Some cash and ideally a credit card for the and ideally passport number first couple of days The exact duration of your planned stay The type of research project The confirmation that a workplace and equipment will be made available
14 1.5. Visa Please note: You must apply for a national visa The Difference between a Visa and a Residence (D visa). With this visa you can also travel to oth- Permit er countries in the Schengen area for 90 days. A visa allows you to travel to Germany and is You should under no circumstances travel to Ger- usually limited to 90 days. For an employment many with a tourist visa (“Schengen visa”, type contract and longer stays, non-EU citizens must C). You are not allowed to work with a tourist visa apply for a work and residence permit at the For- and it cannot be converted into a residence or eigners’ Registration Office (“Ausländerbehörde”) work permit in Germany. You would risk having responsible for your area in Germany before your to travel back to your home country in order to visa expires (see chapter 2.4.). This is also neces- start the application process over again. sary for international employees who do not Country specific visa requirements: Federal need a visa to travel to Germany. Foreign Office: https: www.auswaertiges-amt. de/en w Entry & Residence w Visa regulations Applying for a Visa w Overview of visa requirements and exemp- A visa can be applied for at all German consu- tions lates and embassies worldwide. The application List of German missions abroad: process can last months and this should be https: www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en w Foreign taken into account when planning your stay. The & European Policy w Bilateral relations w Ger- following documents are usually needed for the man missions abroad: Countries A to Z application: Passport Multiple passport photos (not older than 4 1.6. Social Security and Insurances weeks) 1.6.1. General Information on Social Security Application form Social security in Germany is based upon the Confirmation of employment and proof of in- principle of solidarity and is mostly compulsory. come in your home country The system protects against possible risks due Documents which verify the reason for your to unemployment, illness or old age and com- stay in Germany and how it will be financed, prises the following elements: e.g. letter of invitation (see chapter 1.4.) from Health insurance the university, confirmation from your schol- Nursing care insurance (“Pflegeversicherung”. arship provider etc. In case you need assistance in old age or Proof of health insurance need to go to a nursing home) Consular fees (variable) Unemployment insurance However, what is required can vary. Clarify this Accident insurance (at work) before your appointment in order to avoid a pro- Pension scheme longed waiting time.
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 15 Before Arrival 1
International Researchers with an Employment – Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Af- Contract fairs brochure “Social Security at a Glance”: As a JMU employee, insurance is compulsory as www.bmas.de/EN w services w publica- soon as you enter into a contract beyond the limit tions w social security at a glance of marginal employment (¤ 450 per month). When – European Commission brochure on your you enter into an employment contract, you are social security rights: ec.europa.eu/ automatically registered with the necessary social social/main.jsp?catId=858&langId=en insurance providers. After you have chosen a w Germany health insurance, they will be informed of the – Information on transferring claims abroad start of your employment by the Service Centre or from other countries: Human Resources. The health insurance provider EURAXESS: www.euraxess.de/en w Services then informs the other social insurance providers. w Outgoing Researchers w Social Security Once the registration process has been complet- ed, you will receive your insurance number (“Ver- 1.6.2. Health Insurance sicherungsnummer”) from the provider handling Everyone living or working in Germany must have the pension scheme as well as a booklet proving health insurance. It must be proven that at least that you are insured (“Versicherungsnachweis out-patient medical treatment and hospital heft”), which you must give to the Service Centre costs are covered by a health insurance company Human Resources. As your employer the universi- and certain medical check-ups are included. ty is responsible for paying the contributions. Your Therefore you must show proof of health insur- contribution is based upon your income and is ance valid in Germany before obtaining a resi- directly deducted from your salary. The contribu- dence permit or signing an employment contract. tions amount to around 20 % of your gross salary. Short Stay Stay with a Scholarship In the case of a shorter research stay of up to three In the case of a scholarship without entering into months without an employment contract, a nor- an employment contract, you are generally ex- mal travel health insurance is generally sufficient. empt from compulsory social security payments. Health insurance is however an exception and Research with Employment Contract even as a scholarship holder you must organize If you have an employment contract with the uni- coverage for yourself. versity, you will have to sign up for statutory Further Information on Social Security in health insurance with one of the public health Germany insurances, offering full medical treatment. If – All five branches of social security: Ger- needed, this can be expanded through private man Social Insurance supplementary insurances which offer coverage www.deutsche-sozialversicherung.de/en for additional services such as dental prostheses,
16 financing glasses and contact lenses, the costs International Doctoral Researchers on of special treatment methods, treatment by the Scholarships or Own Funds head psychologist/psychiatrist or a private room Some healthcare providers offer student health- in the hospital. care for enrolled doctoral researchers. This might Only if you exceed a yearly gross salary of seem very attractive as the monthly premium is ¤ 60,750 (as of 2019, assessment ceiling chang- low. Doctoral researchers are, however, legally es annually), you can choose between the gov- not entitled to student healthcare. Do not sign ernment-regulated public health insurance (GKV, up for student healthcare. At the worst, you must see 1.6.2.1.) or a private health insurance from a later pay for medical treatments and hospital German or international insurance company (PKV, stays yourself. see 1.6.2.2.). 1.6.2.1. Government Health Insurance System/ Research Stays Financed Through Statutory Health Insurance (GKV) Scholarships or Own Funds In Germany, there are more than 130 public If you are financing your research stay either with health insurance companies which are part of a scholarship or your own funds, you are not the government health system. All providers publicly insured through the university. You must charge a fixed percentage (about 15 %) of the search for private insurance. There are many monthly gross salary up to an income threshold private providers which are specialised in the of roughly ¤ 4,426 (as of 2018). Beyond the needs of mobile researchers. threshold the premium stays constant. Around In certain cases existing health insurance in 90 % of all Germans are members of one of the the home country could cover the required ser- statutory insurance companies. Services are vices. Clarify the requirements with the German largely fixed for statutory health insurance but Embassy and your health insurance company. If the provider can be freely chosen. It is worth com- the insurance is sufficient, you will need official paring the providers as differences exist regard- proof from your health insurance in German or ing supplementary services, packages and cus- English documenting which services are includ- tomer service. Additional governmental nursing ed and that the insurance is valid for Germany care insurance is mandatory. Half of the costs are and the complete duration of your stay. taken on by the employer. There are some health insurance providers Check if your home country has a social secu- specialised in covering international research- rity agreement with Germany. You can also ask ers, students, visiting professors etc. which you your host institute or the Welcome Centre for can easily find online. help with finding a health care provider. Information on the German health system: www.make-it-in-germany.com w Living w Healthcare
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 17 Before Arrival 1
Comparison of public health care companies Overview of all private health insurance in Bavaria (only in German): companies in Germany: www.gesetzlichekrankenkassen.de/preise/ www.krankenkassen.de w Private Krankenver- bayern/bayern.html sicherung w Liste: Private Krankenversicher ungen 1.6.2.2. Private Health Insurance (PKV) The website is only available in German but it In Germany, there are more than 40 companies is easy to navigate to the page with the list of which offer private health insurance. Services providers. You can always ask the Welcome and premiums vary. However, they usually offer Centre or your host institute for help. more services and a wider range of treatment methods than the GVK. If you have a private 1.6.3. Possible Supplementary Insurances health insurance, you first have to pay for your In addition to the compulsory insurances there is treatment yourself and will be reimbursed by a large variety of voluntary insurances. The fol- your PKV later, after you have sent them the bill. lowing insurances are not compulsory but are Furthermore you must pay the insurance individ- considered “must haves” or at least useful to ually for all family members (in contrast to family various degrees depending on your own person- in surance with the GKV) and pay the amounts al risk profile. As almost everyone has these in- even when you are temporarily not working (e.g. surances, the premiums are low. Certain agen- during family leave). cies specialize in the needs of international As they are not based on the solidarity prin researchers and offer individual packages tailor ciple, the premiums of PKV are not dependent on ed to your needs. The liability insurance (“Haft your salary but rather on factors such as age and pflichtversicherung”) is also recommended for pre-existing conditions. If you are young and shorter stays. If you want to drive your own car, healthy, premiums are likely to be lower than for you will need to take out additional mandatory public health insurance. A private health insur- liability insurance for motor vehicles (Kfz-Haft ance might thus be an attractive option for pflichtversicherung). In any case, when taking healthy young researchers coming on their own out insurance you should choose policies which with a fellowship or using their own funds. can be terminated yearly. Once you are privately insured it can be diffi- cult to return to statutory health insurance. As of Must have a certain age or due to a chronic illness a private (Third-party private) Liability Insurance insurance provider can deny you coverage. Bear (“Haftpflichtversicherung”): in mind that the process of acceptance will take Covers physical injury or material damage to some time due to medical examinations prior to others caused by you. Please note: most pri- signing a contract. vate liability insurances do not cover damage caused at work. If you work with expensive
18 The Residence Palace with its Square and Court Garden is a UNESCO World Heritage Site Bild:Elmar Hahn Bild:Elmar
equipment, e.g. in a lab, it is advisable to cover caused by accidents outside of the work- that risk through an additional workplace place (e.g. sporting accidents). liability insurance. Disability Insurance/Income Protection (“Be rufsunfähigkeitsversicherung”): Potentially useful Protection in case you can no longer work Household Contents Insurance/Home Insur- (e.g. due to back problems, burnout or severe ance (“Hausratversicherung”): Protects your illness which permanently limits employ- furniture and household equipment against ment) fire, water damage or burglary Life Insurance: Private Accident Insurance/Accidental Death Will give financial aid to your surviving de- and Disablement Insurance (“Private Unfall pendents versicherung”): Legal Assistance Insurance (“Rechtsschutz- Not to be confused with health insurance, versicherung”): which covers treatment. This one covers, for Provision of legal advice and lawyers in the example, income losses to you or your family case of a legal dispute
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 19 Before Arrival 1
1.7. Finding Accommodation man. In the first days or weeks, the Welcome Würzburg is very popular with students. As a Centre and your host institute can help you in consequence finding a flat may take some time, your search for housing with tips and informa- and you should plan many months in advance. It tion. They can also send you information in ad- is especially difficult for international research- vance to help you before your arrival. If you have ers looking for a furnished flat close to Campus questions regarding the various neighbourhoods Hubland, the city centre or the University Hospi- and areas in Würzburg and their accessibility, tal to find suitable offers early enough. As the they can also assist in answering these ques- majority of landlords in the area prefer to rent tions. In the case of language difficulties the Wel- their flats furnished and on a long-term basis, for come Centre can establish the first contact with a shorter stays you must allow for spending more potential landlord. time looking for accommodation. This is espe- cially the case during the time before the start of 1.7.1. University Guesthouse a new semester. You are recommended to arrive The flats at the University International Guest- early in order to visit and view flats in person. house are fully furnished and centrally located. The majority of rental advertisements in Each flat has one to two rooms, a bathroom and a news p apers and local online portals in Germany kitchenette. Flats can be rented for a maximum of are in German – even if the landlord speaks six months. If you are interested in staying at the English. A list with key expressions and the most University International Guesthouse, ask as soon common abbreviations and acronyms relating to as possible because the guest flats must be the features and description of flats, houses and booked many months in advance. A binding book- the rental terms and conditions can be found in ing must be made through your host institute. the back of the brochure. This list might make it Further information: easier for you to find a suitable flat. www.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/home w Guests Flats in neighbouring cities and communities and Visitors w Guest House are often easier to find and less expensive. You are, however, recommended to check before- 1.7.2. Siebold Collegium hand if public transportation is available or if you The Siebold-Collegium – Institute for Advanced need a car in order to reach the university. Studies (SCIAS) and its fellows (along with their According to law any potential broker fees families) are housed in the Welz Haus. It is situ- have to be paid by the landlord. Be aware that ated in a very quiet yet central area of Würzburg you might still encounter situations in which bro- (Klinikstraße 6). Its location is ideal to explore kers try to charge you some additional fees. the city as many points of interest are within There are many websites online where you walking distance. The house contains 20 flats for can look for accommodation in Würzburg. The one to three persons, discussion/meeting areas, majority of these websites, however, are in Ger- a small lecture hall, a kitchen/dining hall and
20 The “Welz House”: meeting point for international guests Bild: Daniel Peter
other facilities. The entire building is a non-smok- ing area. The flats are fully furnished, of various sizes and each contains a bathroom/shower and a kitchenette. The monthly rent includes internet access, use of shared facilities, electricity and heating costs and also covers the weekly joint fellow dinners and free access to all events tak- ing place at the Welz Haus. For more information, and in case of ques- tions: https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/scias
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 21 After Arrival 2
2.1. Checklist Registration is easy and free of cost For international researchers with an employ- You will need: ment contract Passport Register your new place of residence at the Confirmation of the landlord that you are ac- Citizens’ Office (“Bürgerbüro”) within two cepted as a tenant (“Wohnungsgeberbestäti- weeks after your arrival in Germany gung des Vermieters”) Open a bank account at a German bank Registration form Sign up for health insurance If you live in the University Guesthouse, the con- Sign your employment contract at the Service firmation of the landlord is normally sent from Centre Human Resources the Guesthouse directly to the Citizens’ Office. Apply for your work and residence permit at You can either make an appointment online the Foreigners’ Registration Office (“Auslän- or go to the Citizens’ Office, take a number and derbehörde”) before your visa expires wait. The last numbers are given out half an hour Make a decision regarding the supplemen before closing time. The Welcome Centre and tary company pension scheme (“Betriebliche your host institute can help download the re- Altersvorsorge” (VBL)) within two months quired forms. after starting your job In general, if you live within the city limits, the Obtain a Job Ticket for public transportation if Citizens’ Office is responsible for registration: necessary Online Registration for an Appointment: Enrol at the university if you are an interna- www.wuerzburg.de/en w Residents w Würz tional doctoral researcher burg Citizen’s Office (Bürgerbüro) w book your The following sections provide information on appointment online those steps. Address Bürgerbüro der Stadt Würzburg Rückermainstraße 2 2.2. Registration at the Citizens’ Office 97070 Würzburg (“Bürgerbüro”) [email protected] In Germany, every citizen must register their re Opening Hours vary throughout the week. sidence when they move to a new city. If you are Check on the internet before you intend to go planning a stay of six months or longer in Würz there! burg, you are required to register within two weeks. If you do not have your own accommoda- If you live in one of the surrounding towns or tions or address upon arrival, it is also possible villages such as Gerbrunn, Veitshöchheim or to register with the address of your temporary Rottendorf, you must register with the respon accommodation. A change of address is possible sible county administration office (“Landrats at any time thereafter. amt”).
22 The Town Hall “Grafeneckart” is one of Würzburg’s historic highlights Bild: Congress-Tourismus-Würzburg, Fotograf: A. Bestle Fotograf: Congress-Tourismus-Würzburg, Bild:
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 23 After Arrival 2
Address Proof from the Citizen’s Office (“Bürgerbüro”) Landratsamt Würzburg that you have registered Zeppelinstraße 15 With your account you will receive an EC Card. 97074 Würzburg With this card you can pay at almost all stores [email protected] and restaurants, and you can use it at your www.landkreis-wuerzburg.de bank’s cash machines free of charge. Taking out money from cash machines operated by other Registration for shorter stays: banks is possible but usually involves a fee. For research stays of less than six months you may not have to register. A registration is only Short Research Stays: necessary if: If you are a visiting professor and only research- You need a tax identification number ing or teaching at JMU for a short period of time, You have to apply for a residence or work per- especially if you come on a fellowship, it might mit. This is usually the case for researchers not be necessary or even possible to open a from non-EU countries who will be in Germa- German bank account. Please ask the Welcome ny for longer than 90 days, and who have not Centre for advice. directly received a residence permit from the German Embassy in their home country for the complete duration of their stay. 2.4. Applying for a Residence and Work Permit Citizens from outside the EU must apply for a re sidence permit if their planned stay is longer 2.3. Setting up a Bank Account than the duration allowed (usually 90 days) on Before signing an employment contract you will the visa granted by the Embassy. Work and re usually need an account from a German financial sidence permits can be applied for at Würzburg institution so that your salary or scholarship can Citizens’s Office (“Bürgerbüro”), Department for be transferred. The conditions for opening an Foreigners’ Registration Office (“Bürgerbüro”) at account are similar at the majority of banks. It is the Foreigners’ Registration Office (“Ausländer- however useful to compare the account manage- behörde”). ment fees at the various banks. The majority of branches offer consultation in The application usually implies two steps: English but an appointment should be made in 1. Consultation: After you have registered with advance. The Welcome Centre will gladly help the Residents’ Registration Office at the Citizen’s you set up an appointment. Office, you can go to the Foreigners’ Registration In order to open a bank account you will need Office at its office hours, without an appoint- the following: ment, with your documents. Alternatively, Passport you can schedule an appointment at http://
24 www.wuerzburg.de/r_409095. It is essential to Finally you will receive an appointment for the do this at least eight weeks before your visa or actual application procedure. residence permit e xpires. You have to apply for an extension or renewal. You will be given all the 2. Actual Application: At this appointment you required application forms, your documents will will apply for your work and residence permit. be reviewed and you will be told which addition- There are various types of residence permits. The al certificates or documents you might need. The type of permit you will receive depends on sever- following documents are usually required: al factors, for example your employment contract Passport and income, your field of research or work or the One biometric passport photo (not older than duration of your stay. The staff at the Department 4 weeks) for Nationality Issues and Foreigner Affairs will The application form completely filled in advise you regarding this. Verification regarding financing your stay, e.g. If you have questions or problems, the Wel- employment contract or confirmation from come Centre is always ready to assist. They can your scholarship provider help you fill in the application form and, upon Verification of what you will be doing during request, accompany you to your appointment. your stay, e.g. employment contract (certifi- If you do not live in Würzburg, but in one of cate from your employer in case your employ- the surrounding areas such as Gerbrunn, Veits ment contract is not yet ready), research höchheim or Rottendorf, you must apply for your agreement work and residence permit with the responsible Proof of health insurance county administration office (“Landratsamt”) Proof of sufficient accommodation (“aus (see chapter 2.2.). reichendem Wohnraum”) through proof of accommodation (“Wohnungsnachweis”: this lists the exact size of your accommodation).
Please note the definition of sufficient accommodation “ausreichendem Wohnraum”: You and every family member over six years of age must each have 12 m2 and every family member under six years of age must each have 10 m2 available to them. Additional rooms such as the kitchen, bathroom, WC and hallway must be ac cessible to everyone.
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 25 After Arrival 2
Costs for applying for a work and the start of your contract. In this case the employ- residence permit (as of 2018) er will take on a different supplementary pension – Initial permit (duration-independent): ¤ 100 scheme (VBLextra) which entitles you to a pen- – Extension of up to three months: ¤ 96 sion without any waiting period or minimum – Extension of more than three months: ¤ 93 working time. You will receive all of the necessary Address information including the application documents Fachabteilung Staatsangehörigkeits- und Aus from the the Service Centre Human Resources. länderangelegenheiten Further information on the VBLklassik and Rückermainstrasse 2 VBLextra tariffs: 97070 Würzburg VBL: www.vbl.de w English top right corner [email protected] General information on German pension Information on residence permits scheme: – EURAXESS: EURAXESS: www.euraxess.de/en w Infor www.euraxess.de/en w Services w Incom mation and Assistance w Social security ing Researchers w Visa and entry w Pension scheme – German Rectors’ Conference: Pension systems worldwide and application www.hrk.de/home w HRK International w procedures for researchers who are entitled Mobility and Mutual Recognition w Mobili- to a pension in multiple countries: ty of Researchers w Leaflet in English www.findyourpension.eu
2.5. Company Pension Scheme (VBL) 2.6. Job Ticket For all public employees there is a mandatory Using public transportation as a university company pension scheme which supplements employee the general state pension scheme. It is provided As a university employee you are entitled to re- by the Federal and State Government Employees ceive a Job Ticket, the “Mobil-Firmen-Abo”, which Retirement Fund (“Versorgungsanstalt des Bun- makes using public transportation in Würzburg des und der Länder” (VBL)) and partially payed cheaper. As soon as you have your Novell user ac- for by your employer and yourself, respectively. count you can download the application form from This scheme will automatically come into effect the Intranet and register for the Mobil-Firmen-Abo. once you sign a contract (VBLklassik). Receiving The Mobil-Firmen-Abo is not transferable. At any benefits however depends on having worked certain times, however, you can take family mem- in the public sector in Germany for at least five bers with you free of charge. The Job Ticket is valid years. Therefore, if your employment contract is for one year and is automatically renewed for an- shorter than five years, you can have yourself ex- other 12 months if it is not cancelled in writing in empted from VBLklassik within two months after time according to current terms and conditions.
26 If, however, an employee leaves their job be- The rent must be promptly transferred to the fore the end of the fiscal year or was not able to landlord’s bank account usually at the beginning use the ticket because of a longer stay abroad or of the month. Payment in cash is normally not illness, the costs for the ticket can be partially possible. reimbursed. For more information on the Job Ticket and Additional Costs how to get the application form please con- Please pay special attention to what is included tact: Unit 4.1 at the Service Centre Human Re in the additional costs. In the majority of cases sources: go.uniwue.de/job-ticket you will pay monthly for the additional costs which are calculated based upon the size of the Using public transportation as a doctoral flat and the number of people living there. At the researcher end of the year the exact amount of water, heat- If you are enrolled for your PhD at the university, ing etc. that was used will be determined. If you your student card can also be used as a semester have used less than what was calculated for the ticket. With your card you can use all public year, you will receive money back, if you have transportation within the city and to certain used more, you will have to pay the difference. neighbouring areas free of charge. Range of the semester ticket: Deposit www.studentenwerk-wuerzburg.de/en w Money Most landlords require a security deposit equiv- w Save Money w Semester Ticket w Würzburg alent to 2-3 months of rent. If you have caused any damage to the flat beyond normal wear and tear – sometimes a matter of dispute – the land- 2.7. Rental Contract lord can keep a part of the deposit when you A rental contract is legally binding once the ten- move out. If everything is in good order, you get ant and the landlord have signed it. It should the complete deposit back. Therefore, it is crucial therefore be thoroughly scrutinised beforehand. that all existing defects in the flat be document- If you have difficulty understanding the contract, ed in a report drawn up when the flat is being please ask your host institute or the Welcome handed over to you. That report prevents you Centre for help. from being held responsible for pre-existing de- The rental contract is usually drawn up in Ger- fects when you move out. There are various op- man and contains information on the rental price tions for paying the deposit. Ask the Welcome and additional costs, the duration of the lease, Centre for assistance. cancellation period and obligations such as re- pairs and renovations. Possible increases in the rental price will also be mentioned.
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 27 After Arrival 2
Bird’s eye view: the Fortress on Marienberg Hill Bild: Elmar Hahn Bild: Elmar
Renovations made for furnished temporary accommodations. Major renovations and repairs are paid by the A minimal duration of rent may be agreed upon landlord. Inform your landlord of damages right as may be the case. away so that repairs can be taken care of imme- diately. Smaller, “decorative” repairs, however, Practical tips are the responsibility of the tenant. This is also In order to avoid conflicts with the landlord or a mentioned in the rental contract. For unfur- premature cancellation of the lease it is recom- nished flats with an open-ended rental period mended to inform yourself in detail on the “house the tenant is often required to paint the flat ei- rules” (“Hausordnung”). They might include: ther when moving in or when moving out. Avoiding noise during midday and after 10:00 in the evening Cancellation period and duration of rental Proper heating and airing of the rooms in or- The majority of rental contracts are open-ended der to avoid the formation of mould and have a cancellation period of three months. Proper waste sorting Exceptions must usually be made in writing. Performing specific tasks together with the Shorter rental and cancellation periods are often other tenants in the building (by arrangement),
28 e.g.: cleaning the staircase or lawn work. Of- Mobile phone contracts ten, however, a caretaker is responsible for For your mobile telephone you can either enter these tasks whose services are then included into a contract or use a prepaid sim card. Rates in the additional costs. with a contract might be cheaper if you are a fre- quent user, but they often have a minimum dura- tion of 24 months. For shorter stays in Germany a 2.8. Phone and Internet prepaid card is recommended. It can be bought If you are not living in a Guesthouse or residence directly from the shops of the various mobile hall in which the costs for the internet and tele- phone providers, at many supermarkets and at phone are included in the utility costs, you have electronic shops. As special rates for calling to find a telephone and internet provider on your abroad vary from provider to provider, it is worth own and arrange the contract. You can choose comparing them beforehand. from a variety of services and numerous provid- ers, resulting in different costs. You have to care- fully select the right package. For example, inter- 2.9. Television license fees national calls and calls from a landline phone to (“Rundfunkbeitrag”) a mobile phone are usually not included in flat If you are registered as resident in Germany, you rate offers. Pay attention to the contract cancella- have to pay a mandatory licence fee for public tion period. Contracts that can be cancelled service broadcasting, which offers a diversity of monthly are usually more expensive but you programmes on television, on the radio, online should avoid contracts for 12 or 24 months. and in media libraries. As a general rule one res- Using your home address you can go through idence – one fee. For ¤ 17.50 per month, the li- the websites of the various providers online and cence fee covers all public service programmes check which rates and surfing speeds are availa- on all distributive channels. You will be informed ble in your area. Contracts can be arranged on- by the public service broadcasters and will get an line or through a telephone hotline. The required invoice every three months. equipment will be sent to you through the mail More information at: https://www.rundfunkbei with a onetime fee. A technician can be called if trag.de/welcome/englisch problems arise. There are many sites online where you can compare the various telephone and internet pro- 2.10. Taxes viders. Popular internet providers in Germany 2.10.1 Tax Identification Number are also easily found online. Approximately one to three weeks after registering at the Citizen’s Office (“Bürgerbüro”) you will re- ceive your tax identification number. You must then send this to the Service Centre Human Re-
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 29 After Arrival 2
sources. This number is valid for life. Your tax own country, the Service Centre Human Resourc- number and additional tax information (“Steuer- es will fill in a form for you exempting you from merkmale”) are to be found on the top right paying taxes. hand side of your pay slip (“Lohnabrechnung”). Information on Double Taxation Agreements: As those who are married with partners in Ger- Federal Ministry of Finance: many and emplo yees with children can apply to www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/Web/EN receive certain reductions and tax allowances w Issues w Taxation w Double Taxation (“Steuerfreibeträg e”), it is important to make sure that all of your information is correctly re- International Researchers with a Scholarship corded. If this is not the case, please contact the Scholarships are usually tax exempt. There may, Service Centre Human Resources. however, be exceptions, therefore it is important to ask your scholarship provider. 2.10.2. Tax Obligation Every person in Germany who performs any activ- Seek Professional Advice ity (“Tätigkeit”) for which they are paid must also In case of doubt, the “Betriebsstättenfinanzamt” pay income tax. The amount depends on the in- is the only authority which can give you legally come. Simply not knowing the regulations will binding information on your tax liability in Ger- not protect you from prosecution if you inadvert- many. This information can be requested free of ently pay too little or no taxes at all. charge. It is also highly recommended to go to a private tax consultant if you are not sure of your Researchers with an Employment Contract liability, or entitlements, and need help working If you enter into an employment contract with the through the tax system in Germany. university, you will be subject to taxation in Ger- many and the income tax will automatically be 2.10.3. Changing Your Tax Bracket deducted from your salary. If you have an employment contract with the uni- versity and your spouse comes with you to Ger- Visiting Professors with a Shorter Stay many, you may be entitled to claim certain tax Visiting professors, who are only at the university benefits and to change your tax bracket. This is for a few weeks or months and are remunerated particularly advantageous if your spouse earns for their work, are often exempt from paying in- less or has no income while in Germany. You come tax. This is regulated in double taxation must fill in and submit the form “Antrag auf agreements in order to avoid that your income is Steuerklassenwechsel bei Ehegatten/Lebenspart taxed in two countries. Make sure to inform your- nern” (changing tax bracket with spouse/part- self of the agreement between Germany and the ner) in order to change your tax bracket. You can country in which you currently reside. If an agree- go directly to the tax office and apply for the tax ment exists which allows you to pay tax in your bracket change upon presentation of your pass-
30 port and tax identification number (“Steuer Marriage certificate (original and a certified identifikationsnummer”). If you need assistance, translation and, if necessary, legalization/ the Welcome Centre can set up an appointment apostille) or accompany you there. For more information on Birth certificate for the children and adults bringing your family to Germany and on other (original and a certified translation and if nec- family benefits and allowances see chapter 2.11. essary legalization/apostille) Proof of insurance, financing and accommo- dation (see chapter 1) 2.11. Bringing Family Proof of basic knowledge of the German lan- 2.11.1. Applying to Bring Your Family guage (level A1, European Reference Frame- The possibilities and requirements for bringing work) where this can reasonably be expected family are dependent upon the type of residence Please inquire as early as possible at the respon- permit and the reason why the family member is sible German diplomatic mission because the in Germany. Usually foreign nationals in Germa- process of acquiring these documents can vary ny with either a residence permit, a settlement greatly and may take several months. For every permit, the right of permanent residence in the application process health insurance, adequate EU or an EU Blue Card can bring their spouses/ living space and sufficient means of financial partners and under-age children. Before entry, a support for the spouse and children in Germany visa for bringing family must be applied for at the must be guaranteed. responsible German diplomatic mission. Regarding other family members such as par- ents or siblings, there is only a right to bring The following documents are generally required: them in cases of exceptional hardship. Please Passport ask the Welcome Centre or your host institute for A copy of the passport and residence permit help if you are in doubt. They can help direct you of the person already living in Germany to the correct authorities.
Special note for international doctoral researchers: You should take into consideration that the right to bring family and other advantages such as applying for family benefits with a residence permit under § 16 (for students) is considerably limited. In the case of bringing a spouse the marriage must have already taken place at least two years before applying, or the residence permit of the spouse already living in Germany must have been issued at least two years before application. In case of doubt you can speak with someone from the Foreigners’ Registration Office (“Ausländerbehörde”) to see if you could possibly receive a different type of residence permit. Doctoral researchers with an employment contract can usually receive a permit under § 18 (for employees). Under certain conditions doctoral researchers with a scholarship can qualify for a resi- dence permit under § 20 (for researchers). The host institute must however verify if the requirements for a research agreement are fulfilled.
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 31 After Arrival 2
2.11.2. Applying for Parenting Benefit For researchers without an employment (“Elterngeld”) contract If you have a child in Germany you can apply for The application for child benefits is processed by “Elterngeld”. This, however, is only for the par- the Family Office of the Federal Employment ent who stops working and takes family leave in Agency. You can find more information on the order to take care of the child. “Elterngeld” is requirements as well as application forms on the only allocated for a maximum of 14 months after website of the Federal Employment Agency: the child has been born. The parents can decide www.arbeitsagentur.de/web/content/EN how to split the family leave among themselves. In addition, there is “Elterngeld Plus” for parents For researchers with an employment contract working part-time: it is less, but paid out over a If you have an employment contract with the uni- longer period of time. The payable amount de- versity, the Bavarian Regional Financial Authority pends on many factors and can vary between a (“Bayerische Landesamt für Finanzen”) is re- minimum of ¤ 150 a month under “Elterngeld sponsible for the disbursement. Plus” and ¤ 1,800 a month under “Elterngeld”. Application for child benefits: Familienkasse Aschaffenburg 2.11.3. Applying for Child Benefit Hofgartenstr. 14-16 (“Kindergeld”) 63739 Aschaffenburg If your child is living with you in Germany you can Phone: +49 (0)800/45 55530 receive child benefits from the time your child is https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/en/welcome born until the end of their 18th year, under certain For the application you will need proof of your circumstances even longer.For every child you child’s arrival in Germany and his/her registra- will receive ¤ 204 (as of 2019) every month. The tion at the Citizen’s Office (“Bürgerbüro”) as well amount increases from the third child on. If your as the child’s tax identification number. Both child is living abroad or is receiving similar bene- parents must sign the application. If you have fits from abroad, you cannot apply for child be any questions, the Welcome Centre will be happy nefits in Germany. to help.
Special note for international doctoral researchers: If you have a student visa under § 16, you normally are not entitled to apply for parenting and child benefits. Make sure to seek consultation and information early on.
32 The Institute of Computer Science located on Campus Hubland South
2.12. Driving Licence Non-EU citizens planning a stay of 12 months International researchers from countries in the or longer European Union or European Economic Area For longer stays you will need a driving licence A driving licence from a EU member state or an issued in Germany. To convert your licence into a EEA state is valid in Germany. You have to carry German licence, it must be valid and obtained the national licence with you when driving, your before your entry into Germany. Conversion de- international driving licence is not sufficient. pends on the equivalence of the licence. You may have to take a theoretical and/or practical driv- Non-EU citizens planning a short stay ing test. The Citizens’ Office (Bürgerbüro) is the A driving licence from any other country is only place to apply for a conversion. valid for six months after arrival in Germany. If Information: Federal Ministry of Transport you do not take up residence in Germany for and Digital Infrastructure: www.bmvi.de/EN/ longer than 12 months, this time can be extend- w Mobility w Road w Driving licence w Validity ed for another six months upon application. of foreign driving licences in the Federal Re- public of Germany
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 33 Support Services and Facilities 3
3.1. Service Centre International Affairs ious languages and provide international stu- 3.1.1. International Students Office dents with help and advice. Along with the Letter While international professors and post-doctoral of Admission, all new students receive an infor- researchers are supported by the Welcome mation leaflet from the tutors. They can also look Centre, the International Students Office takes for their “own” personal tutor on the internet. care of international Bachelor and Master stu- This might be someone who lives in the same dents. The office is the first point of contact for hall of residence, who has the same mother students from other countries who want to study tongue or who is studying the same subject. They in Würzburg. The staff is dedicated to looking often meet new arrivals at the train station and after incoming students and to giving advice via take them to their accommodation. They help e-mail, over the phone or directly in their offices. with any necessary paperwork such as enrol- The International Students Office does not ment at the university or applying for a residence restrict its help to matters directly concerned permit, accompany the new students to official with students’ university courses. It also helps offices such as the town hall and give basic infor- them find solutions to different problems and mation on life in Würzburg. puts them through to the right people. Questions The primary target group of the Tutoring Ser- that might arise are: How do I open a bank ac- vice is international students. Doctoral research- count? How can I obtain health insurance? Am I ers who are part of one of the graduate schools at allowed to work to help financing my studies? the University of Würzburg can however also Where can I apply for a student grant? What is benefit from the service and should get in touch the best way to look for accommodation? The of- with their respective graduate school for more fice helps students get started. information. The International Students Office is also Further information: https://www.uni-wuer- responsible for the enrolment of international zburg.de/en/international/home w Study in doctoral researchers. It evaluates the foreign de- Würzburg w Find assistance grees of the candidates in order to determine if they are equivalent to European degrees. Further information on the International Of- 3.2. Office of the Women’s Representative fice and its services: 3.2.1. Counselling Services https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/interna- The University Women’s Representative, togeth- tional/home er with the Women’s Representatives in the vari- ous faculties, is the contact person for questions 3.1.2. Tutoring Services dealing with equal opportunity. She is a voting The International Students Office is supported member in all committees and advises the uni- by a strong network of around 50 German and versity board on questions of equality. international students – tutors – who speak var-
34 International atmosphere on Campus Foto: Robert Emmerich Robert Foto:
Further areas of responsibility are: Website (only in German): Involvement in the process of appointing pro- www.frauenbuero.uni-wuerzburg.de fessors with the goal of increasing the propor- tion of women in such positions 3.2.2. Gender Consulting in Research Networks Support for female academics and students of the German Research Foundation (DFG) Counselling with regard to funding opportuni- For male and female researchers who are part of ties in the qualification phase DFG-funded research networks, there are a varie- Compatibility between academic life and ty of support services offered which are financed family through DFG equal opportunity funds. Many ser- Support for career planning vices are offered in English. Confidential counselling on sexual discrimi- The Service Centre for Gender Consulting in nation and harassment the Office of the Women’s Representative offers Help in finding solutions to conflicts at the support in the planning and implementation of workplace equality policies in close cooperation with the E-Mail: career development programme Scientia and the [email protected] University Family Services.
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 35 Support Services and Facilities 3
Workshops and coaching are regularly offered right type of childcare in Würzburg. Furthermore, for young female researchers. The workshops are the OFS offers a list of caregivers and in-home pro- predominantly offered in English and are orient- viders for individual care arrangements. ed around different career stages, for example “Leadership and supervisory work in interna- 3.3.1. University Day Care Centre tional research teams” for female post-doctoral “Campus Kinderhaus” researchers. The Campus Kinderhaus (CKH) of the University Researchers with family obligations are sup- of Würzburg is located at Campus Nord in the ported through various measures to help with Child and Family Centre. The CKH accommodates the compatibility of work and family life. The es- 120 children from 10 months up to 6 years of age. tablishment of a home office, financing family The childcare facilities are available to all mem- leave replacement and assistants or arranging bers of the university, however, employees have childcare during conferences or outside of nor- priority. mal day care hours can be supported. The main language spoken in the CKH is Ger- Contact: man. However, many international researchers Anna-Lena Vallentin send their children to the “Campus Kinderhaus” Phone: +49 (0)931/31 88968 which gives it an international atmosphere. The www.frauenbuero.uni-wuerzburg.de w Gen- staff is accustomed to communicating with der Consulting für DFG-Forschungsverbünde chil dr en and families from all over the world. More o ver, parents are asked to accompany their children during the first days (up to 4-6 weeks – 3.3. Office of Family Support depending on the child and their parents) for a The university has been certified as a fami- few hours to ensure that that the children have ly-friendly workplace (“Familiengerechte Hoch- enough time to become familiar with their new schule”) since 2008. It continues putting consid- surroundings. erable effort into enlarging its family-friendly You can apply for a place at the “Campus Kin- measures and support infrastructures. derhaus” at any time. As childcare is subsidized The Office of Family Support (OFS) is the main by the state, only 20 % of the full costs have to be point of contact for questions related to combin- covered by the parents. The only precondition for ing studying and working with family responsibil- this reduced price is that applicants are regis- ities. The team at the OFS offers individual consul- tered with the Citizens’ Office (see chapter 2.2.). tation, a wide range of information and support, organizes and arranges childcare and promotes a Please note: If you are planning a shorter research family-centred study and work environment. In stay at JMU, the Campus Kinderhaus will not be an terms of childcare provision, the OFS looks at indi- option for you. Your child must be signed up for a vidual needs and tries to help families find the minimum of six months to receive a place.
36 Children welcome! The university offers day care for babies and toddlers
The monthly costs (only in German): 3.3.2. Babysitter Service www.familienservice.uni-wuerzburg.de The Office of Family Support is supported by a w Campus-Kinderhaus w Vormerkung und network of 50-60 babysitters who study at the Kosten university. Upon request, the Office can find a stu- The reservation form: dent babysitter for your child. You can register on www.familienservice.uni-wuerzburg.de w Kin the webpage and the staff will then suggest avail- derbetreuung w Campus-Kinderhaus w Vor able babysitters to you and establish contact. merkung und Kosten w Vormerkung Campus- The student babysitters are well reputed but Kinderhaus am Hubland English version need a separate insurance for their task. There- For more information or in case of questions, fore it is mandatory to register your babysitter at feel free to contact the CKH directly: the mini-job centre. You have to pay at least the Phone: +49 (0)931/31 88922 or statutory minimum wage but the payment per +49 (0)931/31 80648 hour can be negotiated individually depending [email protected] on the tasks, the number and the age of the chil- dren. The university only establishes contact and is not involved in this process. Caregivers can be
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 37 Support Services and Facilities 3
booked for private reasons as well as for univer- Childcare for shorter research stays during sity events and conferences. If caregivers are de- summer holidays sired during events, the Office establishes the Please note that it will be extremely difficult to contact, employs the staff and covers insurance find day care for your small children if you plan to for both the employees and the children. come with your family for a shorter research stay If you are a member of a DFG-project, it might during the summer. In August, all schoolchildren be possible to finance your childcare via the cen- are on summer break and most day-care centres tral equal opportunity funds. for smaller children are closed. The university More information on registration: offers summer programmes for schoolchildren www.familienservice.uni-wuerzburg.de from 6-12 years. The city of Würzburg as well as w Betreuungsservice w Kinderbetreuung different youth organizations offer similar sum- PRIVAT/UNI-EVENTS mer programmes and workshops for children. https://www.minijob-zentrale.de Most private day-care services and many student babysitters are on holiday as well. 3.3.3. Holiday Programmes You can find nice holiday activities and small During every Bavarian school holiday (except entertainment programmes for children at public Christmas), the office of family support offers full playgrounds which will give your child the oppor- day-care and leisure opportunities on Campus tunity to play with other children, but it will be for pupils between the ages of six and twelve. difficult to find consistent childcare which en During the summer holidays children under 6 ables you to conduct full-time research during years who will start school in September can also the summer. take part in the programme. There is a fee which includes supervision of the children, insurance, lunch and materials for arts and crafts, entrance 3.4. Student Services fees and train tickets for trips when necessary. The goal of the “Studentenwerk Würzburg”, Stu- For some activities to attend some knowledge of dent Services, is to support students in their every- German may be necessary. day needs. Next to being in charge of the canteens More information on services, fees and re and student residences, they also offer legal ad- gistration (only in German): vice, social counselling, student finance advice www.familienservice.uni-wuerzburg.de and other consulting services. It is, however, im- w Campus Camp portant to note that Student Services is not apart of the university. It is an independent organisation with its own management, rules, forms etc. More information: www.studentenwerk-wuerzburg.de/en
38 3.4.1. University Canteens regular university employees. The card can be There are seven canteens (“Mensa”, “Mensate- obtained at the Student Services’ main cash ria” or “Burse”) throughout the city near the ma- desk (“Hauptkasse im Studentenhaus”) for a se- jor locations of the university. Meals can either curity deposit of ¤ 10 with a written statement be paid for with your JMU Card (see chapter from the respective department proving the 3.10.2.) or in cash. Guests at the university have guest researcher’s status. to pay a bit more at the canteens than members. University canteens and their locations City centre 3.5. University of Würzburg Graduate Schools – Burse Würzburg (Am Studentenhaus 1) There are four graduate schools under the Uni- – Mensa am Studentenhaus (Am Studenten- versity of Würzburg Graduate Schools (UWGS) haus 1) system covering all of the research areas at the Campus Hubland (South) university: Life Sciences, Science and Technology – Restaurant Frankenstube (part of the can- and Humanities as well as Law, Economics and teen, Hubland Süd) Society. They all provide structured doctoral Campus Hubland (North) training. Individual training plans are developed – Mensateria (Campus Nord, past the library depending on the doctoral researcher’s academic just over the bridge) background and research project. The large se- – Interimsmensa – Didactic and Language lection of advanced professional training cours- Center es and mentoring offers (see 3.7.) are open to University Hospital doctoral researchers at the graduate schools, – Mensa Josef-Schneider-Straße (Uniklini- but visiting doctoral or post-doctoral researchers kum) may only take part in certain courses. Röntgenring Check with the respective graduate school’s – Mensa Röntgenring (Röntgenring 12) office or contact the UWGS: Menus are updated daily along with ingredients [email protected] and allergy warnings so that you know exactly The most comprehensive offer is provided by the what is being served. Graduate School of Life Sciences (GSLS). Trans- Menus and opening hours: ferable skills courses offered cover a broad range www.studentenwerk-wuerzburg.de/en of topics such as: oral presentation 3.4.2. Discounts for Visiting Guest Researchers job interviews Visiting guest professors or researchers without good scientific practice and scientific writing an employment contract or a JMU Card can re- poster design ceive a chip card for the university canteens statistical data analysis etc. which entitles them to get the same discounts as
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 39 Support Services and Facilities 3
The University Campus Bridge connects “Campus Hubland North” and “Campus Hubland South” Bild: Daniel Peter
Current and upcoming transferable skills leadership (supervising students and profes- courses: sional personnel selection) go.uniwue.de/tskills conflict management In addition, the GSLS offers a PostDoc Plus Pro- financial management gramme which is tailored to the needs of post- career building etc. doctoral researchers and junior principal investi- Current and upcoming PostDoc Plus work- gators. shops: https://www.graduateschools.uni-wuer- The workshops cover topics such as: zburg.de/life-sciences w Postdocs w PostDoc grant writing Plus Program project management
40 3.6. Career Services and ProfiLehre the mentees acquire important skills and All enrolled doctoral researchers may participate work on their own strengths in the courses offered by Career Services. These Networking opportunities courses are, however, mostly offered in German only. 3.7.1. Mentoring Programmes for Male and Career Service: Female Researchers www.career-service.uni-wuerzburg.de/en Mentoring med Peer Doctoral researchers as well as factulty members This two-year programme is a cooperation of the can also benefit from professional training regard- Faculty of Medicine and the University Hospital. ing all aspects of teaching (in German only). Target groups include doctors and clinician sci- ProfiLehre: entists striving for a scientific career at the Uni- www.profilehre.uni-wuerzburg.de versity Hospital or in basic research institutions of the medical faculty working towards a Habili- tation. It centres around the idea of networking 3.7. Mentoring Programmes and working together. Colleagues at similar stag- The university offers a variety of mentoring pro- es in their career meet regularly in interdiscipli- grammes for students, doctoral researchers, post- nary small groups. They discuss and plan indi- doctoral researchers and those striving towards vidual steps along their career paths as well as a Habilitation. The goal of each programme is to possible cooperation and exchange personal ex- promote young scientists and scholars in their periences. Peer groups can also invite individual career plans inside and outside of the university. mentors who then advise them on specific topics There are also mentoring programmes centred or help with concrete questions on the structures specifically on young female researchers to help and rules in academic life. them improve their strengths, work on their More information: weaknesses and prepare them for careers in https://www.med.uni-wuerzburg.de/fakul- fields dominated mostly by men. The structure, taet/karriere/mentoring-med-peer duration, and content of each programme vary depending on the field but each has the follow- Alumni Mentoring ing components: Alumni voluntarily work one-on-one with stu- Peer mentoring groups where young scien- dents, doctoral researchers or young graduates tists and scholars meet and help each other in this mentoring programme. Through their var- set goals and make plans ious experiences alumni can help the mentees Individual mentoring with a mentor already to guide them or to give them tips on the various working in the current or prospective field of career fields both at home and abroad. In addi- the mentee tion, they can simply listen and offer advice. Par- Workshops and training programmes to help ticipation in the programme is voluntary and
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 41 Support Services and Facilities 3
free. In order to become a part of the programme researchers and those working on their Habilita- you must register with the Alumni network under tion, and who are aspiring for leadership positions go.uniwue.de/registration. Once you have regis- within and outside of the university. Young female tered you will be asked to answer a few ques- researchers can systematically plan their career tions in order to find the best mentor for you. path within a time period of 18 months through During the first meeting you can decide if you personal meetings with experienced mentors from and your mentor to make a good match and dis- the fields of research and the corporate world. cuss how you would like to arrange the meetings. More information (in German only): The programme lasts for a year and has a kick-off www.frauenbuero.uni.wuerzburg.de w SCIEN- and feedback stage. TIA Mentoring More information: Alumni Uni Würzburg Mentoring Life Sciences Sanderring 2 This programme organized by the Graduate 97070 Würzburg School of Life Sciences aims to support young Phone: +49 (0)931/31 83150 female scientists on their way towards the upper [email protected] echelons of academia. In courses and work- https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/alumni shops doctoral researchers learn to appreciate their strengths and mitigate the weaknesses 3.7.2. Mentoring Programmes for Female women typically struggle with in science. Experi- Researchers enced scientists of both genders act as personal Mentoring Med and Mentoring med Plus mentors and help with guidance in phases of Mentoring Med is for female doctoral research- uncertainty or doubt. ers and lasts two years. It follows the same struc- More information: ture as Mentoring med Peer (3.7.1.) unless the https://www.graduateschools.uni-wuerz mentoring is one-on-one. Mentoring med Plus is burg.de/life-sciences w Doctoral researchers for women working towards a Habilitation and w Training w MENTORING Life Sciences focuses on the process of becoming a professor. For more information or questions please see the website listed above under Mentoring med Peer. 3.8. Research Funding Support: SFT and RAC The University of Würzburg has two major re- Scientia Mentoring: Career development for search funding support institutions, the SFT (Ser- young female researchers vicezentrum Forschung und Technologietransfer) Scientia Mentoring includes two programmes: and the RAC (Research Advancement Centre). Mentoring Natural Sciences and Mentoring Hu- The SFT advises individual researchers seek- manities and Social Sciences. The two program ing research funding from various sources. In mes focus on doctoral researchers, post-doctoral one-on-one consultations, scientists, especially
42 Work with scientists and scholars from all around the world
in early career stages, are advised on funding ing activities with the ultimate goal to facilitate sources and on general aspects of their career research excellence. Its work concentrates on strategy. This includes, among other things, national funding agencies and foundations. In advice on opportunities for obtaining research the following areas of expertise, the RAC offers awards. The SFT team cooperates closely with services to individual faculty members, teams of relevant experts and services at the university or researchers, university administration and the with institutions on regional, national and inter- university board: national levels. The SFT has a particular empha- sis on funding schemes of the European Union. Strategic Research Advancement In addition, the SFT is responsible for all aspects – e.g. analyses and advice on strategic research of intellectual property and technology transfer, development at JMU. firstly through licensing, and secondly through the support of entrepreneurs founding a start-up company based on university IP. The RAC focusses on the development and implementation of strategic and capacity-build-
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 43 Support Services and Facilities 3
Communication of Research and Research 3.9.1. German as a Foreign Language Opportunities Courses at all levels of language proficiency are – e.g. processing and provision of proposal-/ offered. They enable employees and their fami- award-related metrics; collection and dis- lies, foreign applicants, doctoral students, and semination of funding information to faculty visiting researchers to either prepare for the Ger- and administrators. man Language University Entrance Examination or simply to perfect their language skills. Begin- Enhancement of Collaboration ning with level B1, you may attend special cours- – e.g. coordination of multi- and cross-discipli- es on conversation, writing, listening compre- nary research initiatives, organization of cat- hension, pronunciation or presentation. There alytic research events, development and/or are also online courses available. coordination of resources and tools to pro- There are two forms of German courses: a mote collaboration both within and beyond short but very intensive full day course of about the university. three weeks during the semester break (not com- patible with research) or courses during the se- Proposal Support mester which last approximately 14 weeks and – e.g. proposal development support for large are scheduled to be compatible with your work. as well as individual grants, acting as liaison The intensive courses are open and free for indi- with funding agencies during the proposal viduals enrolled at the university (exceptions development process, coordination of pro- may apply), whereas semester courses are gen- posal reviews prior to submission, analysis of erally also open to international employees and proposal reviews and provision of feedback. their families (for a fee). In order to take part in a German course you must preregister online with More information: the Language Centre. Once you arrive in Würz – SFT www.sft.uni-wuerzburg.de burg you must take a placement test to deter- – RAC www.uni-wuerzburg.de/rac mine your proficiency level. Without the test you will not be admitted. Joining a course in the mid- dle of the semester is not possible. 3.9. Language Centre It is recommended to contact the course co The Language Centre (Zentrum für Sprachen, ordinator for “German as a Foreign Language” ZFS) offers language courses for all university before coming to Würzburg. members. These offers include German as a Contact: Foreign Language, E-learning, tandem learning [email protected] through the face 2 face programme and self-learn- Further information on the Language Centre ing material at the media library. and the Department of German as a Foreign Language: go.uniwue.de/germancourses
44 The Language Centre: German courses in an international atmosphere
Relevant deadlines and the link for the reg- self-instruction material at the Mediothek may be istration process are announced on this page an alternative. The Mediothek is situated on Cam- one or two months prior to the start of each pus Hubland Nord and is open from Monday to new semester: go.uniwue.de/coursereg Friday (during the semester: 9 : 00 am to 18 : 00 pm/ out of semester: 10 : 00 am to 4:00 pm). Here you 3.9.2. Face 2 Face Programme and the Mediothek can find language and grammar books, If you already have some knowledge of German magazines, DVDs and online learning material. and would like to brush it up, the programme The centre also offers language software so you face 2 face may be an option for you. The Lan- can study on your own. Just ask one of the em- guage Centre will try to find a tandem partner for ployees at the service desk for help. you who you can then meet with once or twice a More information in English on the face 2 face week to practice your German. It is especially programme and the Mediothek: easy for English native speakers to find a tandem Ms Karen Zhuber-Okrug partner as many people want to practice English Didactic and language center, EG, Room 054 and are happy to teach some German in return. https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/zfs/start- If you cannot participate in a German lan- seite guage course or the face 2 face programme, the
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 45 Support Services and Facilities 3
3.10. Computer Centre Procedure for enrolled international doctoral The Computer Centre is the central point of con- researchers tact for all IT services on campus. The centre is International doctoral researchers automatically responsible for a variety of tasks ranging from receive a student user ID and an e-mail address system administration and development via upon enrolment. This address is formatted as networks, communication and multimedia ser- “[email protected]”. If you would vices to IT support and education. The following rather have a regular e-mail without “stud-mail”, services are of major importance for all members please ask you department secretary for a regu- of the university. lar account. Once you have a JMU user account you are eligible to use the Computer Centre ser- 3.10.1. JMU User Account (Novell) and E-Mail vices. Off-campus, you can access your e-mail A JMU user account is the first step in being able to: account as well as network drives through vari- Use the internet and computers on campus ous types of remote access. Check the Computer Receive a university e-mail address and ac- Centre homepage for details. cess your e-mail Available services: Apply for the JMU Card (see below) www.rz.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/services Get access to network drives locally and through remote access 3.10.2. JMU Card The JMU Card is a multifunctional ID card for em- Procedure for international researchers entering ployees and students (also called “Student ID”) an employment contract with the university: that can combine any or all of the following func- Once you sign an employment contract with the tions (based upon your requirements): university, you automatically receive a JMU ac- access to electronically locked areas such as count as well as an e-mail address, a GroupWise computer lounges mailbox and a VoIP telephone number. A letter library card with your username and password will be sent to time recording for staff working flexible hours your office address. The JMU account is valid for electronic purse the whole duration of your employment contract. semester ticket for public transport (only in case of enrolled doctoral researchers) Procedure for guest researchers without an em- If you wish to use the payment function of the card, ployment contract (external funding, scholar- for example at one of the university canteens or to ships, own resources) print something at a computer lounge, you must In order to get a user account, your department add money to the card. You can do this at any of must fill in a written request which you must the cash-to-chip machines at the university. then sign. Contact the department secretary for Doctoral researchers receive the card upon more details. enrolment, employees must apply through the
46 Computer Centre under the following link: econ- 4 : 30 pm and from 9 : 00 am to 1 : 00 pm on Friday. trol.rz.uni-wuerzburg.de. Apart from your JMU Phone: +49 (0)931/31 85050 account login data you will need a digital version [email protected] of a recent passport picture. The Welcome Centre https://www.rz.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/home or your host institute will gladly assist you through the process. The JMU Card will be mailed directly to you. After you have received your JMU 3.11. University Library Card you must activate it at any one of the valida- The library ensures the supply of information for tion stations on campus. research, teaching and studying at the university. Its catalogue covers the holdings of the cen- Please note: You only have full access to all dis- tral library as well as the holdings of all depart- counts and functions of the JMU Card if you are mental libraries and can be searched online. You either an enrolled doctoral researcher or if you will find detailed information on using the li- have signed an employment contract with the brary, in German and in English, on its website. university. As a guest researcher without a con- Video tutorials provide a quick introduction to tract you can receive a guest card from your de- the library’s services. partment which, however, only functions as an Approximately half of the books and journals electronic purse. of the central library, and almost the complete holdings of the departmental libraries, are avail- 3.10.3. Computer Courses and able in reading rooms that are open to the pub- Online Resources lic. These holdings can be used on-site free of The Computer Centre also offers a variety of charge and without a library card. courses. The courses range from learning how to You will find scanning stations in the central use PowerPoint and Excel to analytic software library and in some departmental libraries. If you such as SPSS. Video tutorials on the various have a JMU Card (see chapter 3.10.2.), you may topics are also available for download. also use the multifunctional copiers at 15 differ- More information: ent library locations to copy, scan and print. https://www.rz.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/ser However, you can also buy a copy card at the cen- vices/training-courses tral library’s loan desk. The library provides its digital resources 3.10.4. IT Support (elec tr onic journals and newspapers, electronic In case you encounter problems with software or books and databases) from any computer con- hardware which cannot be solved by the FAQ sec- nected to the university’s network. You will how- tion on the website, you can contact the Centre ever need a JMU account to log into the university by e-mail any time. A telephone hotline is avail network (see chapter 3.10.1.). With this account it able from Monday to Thursday from 9 : 00 am to is even possible to use the library’s electronic
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 47 Support Services and Facilities 3
media from anywhere in the world via VPN deliver books and copies of journal articles to access. Ask for assistance to set up VPN access. locations outside Hubland Süd Campus. Ask the Library Website: https://www.bibliothek. library for help with filling in an application for uni-wuerzburg.de the loan service for faculty. Video tutorials: https://www.rz.uni-wuerz With a library card you can also request litera burg.de/en/helpdesk/erklaervideos ture that is not available in Würzburg through in- terlibrary loan. You may also order copies of jour- 3.11.1. Ordering and Borrowing Media nal articles, or copies from other media, for a fee. (loan service for faculty) Please make sure to return borrowed media Most items from the central library can be bor- by the due date to avoid overdue fees. rowed with the exception of all printed journals. More information on acquiring and activat- Holdings of the departmental libraries are non- ing a library card: lending collections and must be used on-site. Ol- https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/verwaltung/ der media and valuable or rarely used media are personal/aufgaben/jmu-personalkartenbuero shelved in closed stacks and can be ordered via the catalogue to the reading rooms of the central library. Some of these media can also be borrowed. 3.12. Sport and Fitness A library card is required if you wish to order If you are looking for some physical activity to help or borrow media. As a staff member you have a balance out your workday, the university has many JMU card that you may activate as your library different opportunities for you. From fitness centres, card through the IT Centre’s web portal eControl. individual and team sports to yoga and dancing If you have a student ID card, it will automatically there is something for everyone. The fitness centres work as a library card. and courses are open to all members of the universi- Scientists who reside in Würzburg at the invita- ty (full-time students, employees and guests). tion of a department may use the library’s loan service for faculty. If you plan on staying at the uni- 3.12.1 Sports Centres and Facilities versity for a full semester, it would be appropriate There are two university sports centres: to apply for a temporary personal account (library Sportzentrum Am Hubland, Unterer Hub- card) through the department. Scientists who are landweg only staying for a few weeks should use the loan The sports centre is equipped with a multi- service for faculty through an already existing ac- purpose hall, fitness centre, tennis courts, count (library card) for working and project teams. beach volleyball court, street soccer arena, an The loan service for faculty offers considera- outdoor fitness tower and other outdoor facil- ble advantages such as a longer lending period ities. In addition, there is someone available and the possibility to borrow books from depart- a few days a week to help you with your indi- mental libraries. An internal delivery service can vidual needs and questions.
48 A quiet place for studying: the central University Library
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 49 Support Services and Facilities 3
Get some exercise at the university’s sports facilities
50 Sportzentrum, Mergentheimer Str. 76 (tram as a guest scientist you can also participate and stop “Judenbühlweg” or “Steinbachtal”) use the facilities if you decide to become a mem- At this sports centre there are a gym, a swim- ber of the support association “Verein zur ming pool, a gymnastics hall, a sauna, a weight Förderung des Hochschulsports”. Required is an room, a climbing wall and a cardio room. annual membership fee of ¤ 25 plus 10-40 ¤ in The Welcome Centre or your host institute can each semester for a participation stamp, de- inform you of the opening hours. pending – among others – on your choice of the different sport facilities. 3.12.2. Courses A special sport ID is required to use the facili- Each semester a wide range of courses are of- ties and to take part in courses. The sport ID can fered by qualified and professional instructors. be purchased from either sports centre during The courses are in the areas of fitness and certain hours. The basic cost varies depending strength training, health, individual sports such on whether you are a student or an employee/ as mountain climbing or tennis, martial arts, guest. There are additional costs if you would swimming, group sports such as football or bas- like to use special equipment or facilities, such ketball, dancing and water sports such as rowing. as rowing boats, the fitness centre, the swim- The Welcome Centre or your host institute can ming pool or tennis courts. help you go through the list of available courses The Welcome Centre or your host institute can and dates. help inform you on where and when a sport ID can be purchased and on its costs thereof. 3.12.3. Costs and Registration For more information contact the Depart- To use the offers provided by the Sport Centre ment for Collegiate Sports: you need to be enrolled or to have a regular em- [email protected] ployment contract with the university. However,
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 51 Life in Würzburg 4
4.1. Public Transport use their employee ID for the buses and trams 4.1.1. Trains and Long-Distance Buses but may apply for a Job Ticket which is valid for All major cities can be reached easily by train or one year (see chapter 2.6.). long-distance buses. For the trains you can buy Schedules for local buses and trams (“Ver- tickets online or at the counter and ticket ma- kehrsverbund Mainfranken”): chines at the station. Buying a ticket early in ad- www.wvv.de w Mobilität w Fahrplanauskunft vance can save you money (“Sparpreis”). No w PDF-Fahrpläne w hier tickets can be bought on the train. Long-distance Please Note: Although this link is in German, bus tickets are usually purchased online at least it is easy to use as long as you know the bus one day in advance. There are various long- or tram number you are looking up or the distance bus options which can be found online. name of your destination, starting location or A good option for exploring Bavaria is the Bavar- the stop in Würzburg. Important vocabulary: ia-Ticket (“Bayern-Ticket”). This ticket can be Startort = Starting location, Ziel = Destina- used for a whole day on almost all regional tion, Haltestelle = Name of stop, trains, buses and trams in Bavaria and costs only Alle Linien = All lines; Suchen = Search ¤ 25. For an additional ¤ 6 per person up to five Journey planner: people can be added to the ticket. www.bayern-fahrplan.de/en Information and booking for Deutsche Bahn (available in English): 4.1.3. Connecting to the university www.bahn.de No matter where your office or lab is located, Information on the “Bayern-Ticket”: there will be a bus or a tram to connect you to the www.bahn.de w Change to English version different university locations and the city. w Offers w Overview of our regional offers w Länder-Tickets w Bavaria-Ticket
4.1.2. Buses and Trams Würzburg has a reliable network of trams and buses which run all over the city and to neigh- bouring towns and villages. Schedules differ on weekends. The tram and bus schedules for each line are displayed directly at each stop and are available online. For all enrolled doctoral researchers, the JMU Card serves as a semester ticket and can be used on all bus and tram lines within, and beyond, the city limits (see chapter 2.6.). Employees cannot
52 Public transport: important connections from and to the universities’ facilities
Main bus station Starting Point Lines Direction Stop(s) Campus Hubland Main bus station 14 Gerbrunn Philosophisches Institut, (by bus) Am Hubland, Mathem. Institut 114 Hubland Philosophisches Institut, Universitätszentrum 214 FHWS Philosophisches Institut, Hubland Mensa, Äußeres Hubland Sanderring 10 Campus Nord Äußeres Hubland, Hubland Mensa, Am Hubland; Campus Nord bus stops: Emil-Fischer-Straße, Bibliothekszentrum, Sprachenzentrum Wittelsbacherplatz Main bus station 114 Hubland Wittelsbacherplatz (by bus) Universitäts- zentrum City Centre, 6 Gartenstadt Seinsheimstraße Barbarossaplatz Keesburg University Hospital City centre or train 1 Grombühl/ Uni-Klinikum Bereich D, Robert-Koch- (by tram) station 5 Uni-Klinikum Straße Uni-Klinikum Bereich B/C
4.2. Events and Leisure Time Activities many”. If you are an avid runner, there are many Würzburg offers a wide range of leisure activi- trails in and around Würzburg as well as the Resi- ties, be it attending one of the folk festivals, dence Run in April and the iWelt-Marathon and watching a play at the Mainfranken Theatre or half marathon in May. There are also excellent simply enjoying a glass of wine. Throughout the paths for walking or cycling along the Main River. summer season (every week from April-October), The 600-km-long Main River Bicycle Trail is one of the city is very busy with a variety of music, art the most popular long-distance bicycle trails in and wine festivals. Also every November/De Germany. On a warm day or evening you can also cember the Würzburg Christmas Market takes simply lounge on the banks of the river and have a place. It is one of Germany’s most picturesque barbecue or take a swim in authorised areas. and enchanting Christmas markets. If you would appreciate some downtime away Examples of popular annual events: from the city, Würzburg also has many outdoor ac- International Spring Festival (May) tivities to offer. Würzburg has an 18-hole golf Africa Festival (May or June) course about 10 minutes by car from the city which Mozart Festival (June) is listed as one of the “Leading Golf Courses of Ger- Kiliani Folk Festival (July)
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 53 Life in Würzburg 4
Hafensommer Würzburg (July or August) 4.4. Museums, Galleries, Music and Theatres Street Music Festival (September) 4.4.1. Museums and Galleries Museum Festival at Fortress Marienberg With its 16 museums and galleries Würzburg is a (September) favourite destination not only for those interested Theatre Festival at Mainfranken Theatre in historical architecture, but also for aficionados (September) of art and culture. The university itself runs several Jazz-Festival (October) museums which are unique in Germany. The Mar- Honky Tonk Festival (November) tin von Wagner Museum is located in the south Würzburger Bachtage (November) wing of the Residence Palace (UNESCO World Cul- Night of Open Wine Cellars (November) tural Heritage Site) and is renowned for its collec- Christmas market (December) tion of antiquities and works of art from around Information on events: the Mediterranean dating from the third century www.wuerzburg.de/en w Visitors B.C.E. to the Late Antiquity. It also includes a re- nowned collection of priceless Greek vases. The “modern” collection focuses on paintings and 4.3. “Foreign Scientist Uni Würzburg” sculptures from the 15th to 19th centuries including Having just arrived in Würzburg you may be inter- a collection of sculptures by Tilman Riemenschnei- ested in joining a group of fellow researchers and der. The Graphic Art Collection comprises hand scientists through the association “Foreign Scien- drawings and prints including works by the Tiepo- tist Uni Würzburg”. This group of enthusiasts or- lo family and copper-plate etchings and woodcuts ganizes cultural and social programmes regularly by Albrecht Dürer. Anyone interested in valuable throughout the year. The activities range from ex- and rare minerals should not miss the University’s cursions to nearby points of interest, going to the Mineralogical Museum. With over 500 square me- theatre together, meeting for a potluck dinner or ters of exhibition space, the museum offers a di- organizing presentations by fellow scientists or verse collection dating back to the 18th century. The scholars. Joining this group is a great way to meet museum is located in the Mineralogy building on other people and to get to know your new home. Hubland campus. Another university museum More information on the association and its worth visiting is the Adolf-Würth-Centre for the programmes: History of Psychology. The main mission of the https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/welcom- Centre is to collect and preserve the heritage of the ecentre/ w Information for International Em- development of the science and the subject of ployees w Contact and Socializing psychology and to make its findings available to Also check out their Facebook page “Foreign researchers and the public all over the world. The Scientist Uni Würzburg”! Centre owns a collection of historical apparatuses and instruments, numerous sound and film docu- ments and many other documents and estates.
54 City map of Würzburg
Parking garage Bus parking Pedestrian zone Restroom Docking river cruises Wheelchair accessible Parking lot Pick-up and drop-off Tram restroom Tourist Information
Main station
Bus station Long distance buses
Bus parking Friedensbrücke
Excursion boats
Mainfranken Theater Market square
City Train
Youth Fortress Marienberg hostel Bild: Stadt Würzburg/Bäumer-Design Bild: Stadt
Hotels, Inns and Guest Houses in Würzburg Accommodations in the Franconian Wine Country 67 Pension Achtzimmer 6 Maritim Hotel Würzburg 84 Akzent Hotel am Bach, Dettelbach 27 Hotel Alter Kranen 66 Hotel Melchior Park 84 Hotel Franziskaner, Dettelbach 17 Top-Hotel Amberger 40 Mercure Hotel Würzburg am Mainufer 86 Hotel Kapellenberg, Eibelstadt 38 B & B Hotel 14 Novotel Würzburg 91 Landgasthof Badischer Hof, 24 Burkardushaus 12 Poppular City Hotel Großrinderfeld-Gerchsheim 35 Hotel Am Congress Centrum 77 Gasthof Ab ins Postkutscherl 93 Akzent Hotel Zur Krone, Helmstadt 64 Appart Hotel International 21 Best Western Premier Hotel Rebstock 92 Hotel Waldeck, Kist 70 Hotel Brehm 2 Hotel Regina 83 Gasthaus zum Schwan, Kürnach 3 Central Hotel 33 Hotel Residence 100 Main Hotel Eckert, Margetshöchheim 74 Chalet im Steinbachtal 5 Pension Siegel 88 Best Western Hotel Polisina, Ochsenfurt 16 City Hotel Würzburg 15 Fränkisches Hotel Zur Stadt Mainz 85 Gasthof Bären, Randersacker 31 Hotel Dortmunder Hof 65 Schönstattzentrum Marienhöhe 85 Gästehaus-Café Demling, Randersacker 70 Hotel Fischzucht 54 Schlosshotel Steinburg 85 Hotel-Gasthof Krone, Randersacker 22 Hotel Franziskaner 32 City Partner Hotel Strauss 85 Hotel-Wein-Gasthof Löwen, Randersacker 48 GHOTEL hotel & living Würzburg 23 Nichtrauch-Hotel Till Eulenspiegel 87 Hotel Sonnengarten, Sommerhausen 29 Hotel Greifensteiner Hof 20 Hotel Walfisch 108 Weingut Schwab, Thüngersheim 41 Hotel Grüner Baum 25 Hotel Zum Winzermännle 107 Hotel Am Main, Veitshöchheim 62 Gasthaus Zum Hirschen 75 Ringhotel Wittelsbacher Höh 107 Hotel Müller Café & Wein, Veitshöchheim 36 Hotel Ibis Würzburg City 8 Hotel Würzburger Hof 107 Hotel Weisses Lamm, Veitshöchheim 58 Hotel Lindleinsmühle 73 Best Western Hotel Würzburg-Süd 107 Hotel & Weinrestaurant Spundloch, Veitshöchheim
Welcome80 to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 55 Life in Würzburg 4
One of Würzburg’s cultural highlights is the annual “Mozartfest” Bild: Elmar Hahn Bild: Elmar
56 Other museums worth visiting in Würzburg: manently docked in Würzburg. It houses Museum für Franken – Staatliches Museum changing exhibitions of contemporary artists. für Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte in Würzburg “Must See Section” of the city of Würzburg at the Fortress Marienberg which houses the homepage: world’s largest collection of works by the me- www.wuerzburg.de/en w Visitors w Must sees dieval sculptor and woodcarver Tilman Rie- Information on museums: menschneider. www.wuerzburg.de/en w Visitors w Museums, Museum Kulturspeicher with 3500 sqm of ex- Galleries hibition space in a restored, historical grain storage building. The most popular collection 4.4.2. Classical Music is the Peter C. Ruppert Collection of European For those who enjoy music Würzburg is a great Concrete Art after 1945. place to live, work or visit. The university has an The Museum at the Cathedral (Museum am Academic Orchestra; and more than 100 students Dom) features around 700 art pieces from the and alumni of Julius-Maximilians-Universität, last 1000 years as well as burial objects, gold the University of Music and the University of Ap- jewellery and liturgical vestments from the plied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt together 11th to 20th centuries. form the renowned Monteverdi Choir. The Choir Röntgen Memorial where the X-rays were dis- has developed a wide concert repertoire, and covered by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen in 1895. has won numerous awards. Siebold Museum which houses permanent For those interested in seeing international and traveling collections, most notably the artists, Würzburg offers a wide range of concerts estate of the local physician and Japan re- and festivals (see chapter 4.2.). The famous Mo- searcher Philipp Franz von Siebold. zart Festival and the Bach Days are two popular The Jewish Information Centre and the Jewish examples of annual classical music events. Museum Shalom Europa detail the Jewish history of Würzburg and Lower Franconia and 4.4.3. Theatres feature grave stones and items illustrating There are 11 theatres scattered across the city traditional Jewish lifestyles and survival in and there is something for everyone. It is impor- the past 900 years. tant to note, however, that most performances VKU-Galerie Spitäle where contemporary are in German. Mainfranken Theatre, Würzburg’s artists exhibit their works in a late Gothic largest playhouse, is located in the heart of the chapel. city and offers a diverse programme, from opera BBK Gallery offers an independent forum for and musicals to ballet and plays. Bockshorn contemporary art. Theater is one of Germany’s most important ca The Swimming Art Exhibition “Kunstschiff Arte baret stages offering a wide and entertaining pal- Noah” is a renovated, former cargo ship per- ette of revue, comedy, theatre, cabaret and musi-
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 57 Life in Würzburg 4
cal performances. There are also puppet theatres burg Prince-Bishops and the famous Rococo for the young and the young at heart: Kasperhaus, garden there. Plastisches Theater Hobbit and Theater Spielberg. www.schloesser.bayern.de w Top right cor- The theater “Augenblick” is a unique experience. ner EN (for English) w Choose Veitshöchheim Individuals with handicaps work as actors and Sommerhausen is a charming village located actresses. Stereotypes between handicapped only 10 km from Würzburg. Whether during the and non-handicapped people are dissolved in a summer for a hike through the vineyards or in very light-hearted way. Tanzspeicher Würzburg is the winter for a stroll through its historical the only theatre for contemporary dance in south- Christmas market – it is always worth visiting. ern Germany. It presents works from newcomers www.sommerhausen.de w Click on the and renowned choreographers. symbol for English on the left side Information on the various theatres, prices Miltenberg has – among other interesting and schedules: things to see and do – a Christmas market www.wuerzburg.de/en/ w Visitors w theatres every weekend during Christmas time located Tourist Information next to the marketplace at the historical marketplace “Schnatterloch”. (“Falkenhaus”) sells tickets for many concerts, www.miltenberg.info/en plays and events in Würzburg. Bamberg is a city of many attractions: The Ca- Tourist information: thedral, the Old Court, Altenburg castls, St. Phone +49 (0)931/37 2335 Michael Monastery or the New Residence of Ticket Service: the Prince-Bishops with its rose garden. Phone +49 (0)9 31/37 2436 Bamberg is also referred to as “Little Venice” and houses the “Lorscher Arzneibuch” which is part of the UNESCO’s Memory of the World 4.5. Tourist Destinations Programme. Large parts of Bamberg are pro- Here you will find a very small collection of sug- tected as world heritage sites as they repre- gestions for activities in your free time. Many of sent central European cities and illustrate the links are only available in German but the their development through unique medieval pictures may give you an idea of what is offered. structures. The list is non-exhaustive and is merely intend- www.bamberg.info w Top right corner click ed to give you a taste of what you can do in the on the German flag and change to English region. Rothenburg ob der Tauber features historical streets, museums and churches with altars of Tourist Destinations in the Region: high historical and artistic value. The city is Veitshöchheim can be can be reached from worth seeing in summer and in winter. In ad- Würzburg by boat, a most recommended way dition to the historical festivals for Pentecost to approach the summer palace of the Würz and the “Rothenburger Märchenzauber”
58 Beautiful lands cape next to Randersacker Bild: Elmar Hahn Bild: Elmar
(ma gic fairy tales) in November, the city has a Schwanberg (only in German): wide range of offers for the whole family for www.vgn.de w Freizeit w Wandern w Rund um every season. den Schwanberg w herunterladen (PDF) www.tourismus.rothenburg.de w Top right Staffelberg – Also known as “Franconia’s corner click on the British flag for English mountain” (only in German): www.staffelberg.de Hiking Trails in the Region Volkach and the Main River Loop: Hafenlohrtal in Spessart (only in German): www.volkach.de w Top right corner English www.naturpark-spessart-erleben.de; www.hafen Fränkische Schweiz (only in German): lohr.de www.fraenkische-schweiz.com w Erleben Schwarzes Moor and Kreuzberg at the Rhön w Aktiv w Wandern Biosphere Reserve: www.rhoenline.de (caves, castles, ruins, mu- seums and nature trails)
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 59 Checklist: Before Departure 5
1. Give notice to the Citizens’ Office 3. Cancel other subscriptions and contracts (“Bürgerbüro”) on time If you are moving to another German city, you For example have to register your new residence there. Mobile and home phone contract as well There is no need to inform the Citizens’ Office as internet connection: The usual length of the city you leave. of a contract for the internet is 12 or 24 If you are leaving Germany and returning to months if you do not live in a Guesthouse your home country, you must personally go to or have not taken on an existing contract the responsible Residents’ Registration Of- from the previous tenants. Contact your fice at the Citizens’ Office to give notice and provider regarding the period of notice. hand in the required forms. The period of notice for mobile phone con- Required forms (in German): Ask for help tracts varies depending on the provider. to be sure you are filling in the correct Please note that mobile phone contracts form(s): are often extended automatically if they www.wuerzburg.de w BürgerInnen w Ser- are not cancelled on time. viceleistungen nach Lebenslagen w An Job Ticket (“Mobil-Firmen-Abo”) can be meldung, Abmeldung, Ummeldung cancelled until the 31st of July of each year. The cancellation must be in written form. 2. End your rental contract on time If you do not meet this deadline your Job In the case of an unlimited rental contract, Ticket will be automatically extended for the notice period is usually three months if no another 12 months. other agreement has been made. Some land- Newspapers and Journals lords are willing to end the rental contract Insurances (Home Insurance, Liability In- sooner if new tenants are found in time and surance etc.) the landlord does not experience any finan- cial loss. When you move out, the flat will be 4. Close your bank account inspected for damage caused during your This can be done without prior notice. stay. If everything is fine, your security depos- it will be reimbursed in full (see chapter 2.7.). 5. Become a member of the University Inform the Welcome Centre of your move. If Alumni Network! required, it can arrange contact to other inter- See chapter 6 to find out how. national researchers who may be interested in taking over your flat and/or furniture that you do not wish to take with you. Have a safe trip home, we hope you will have plenty of wonderful memories to take with you!
60 Open-air feeling at the Old Harbour Bild: Elmar Hahn Bild: Elmar
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 61 Alumni Network 6
Since its founding in 1402, numerous scholars In addition to registering with the Alumni Net- and scientists have spent a part of or their whole work (free of charge), you can also become a academic career at JMU. Today approximately member of the Alumni Association and receive 120,000 alumni of the university are living and an Alumni ID. The annual membership fee is only working all over the world and the university ¤ 25, and benefits include: would like to have a long-lasting, personal and Würzburg city tours free of charge scientific relationship with all of them. We there- Employee prices and conditions for: use of fore invite you to join the international Alumni the fitness facilities, participation in further Network “Alumni Uni Würzburg – Netzw erk mit education offers and meals in the canteens of Zukunft!”. With currently more than 23,000 the university mem ber s in more than 90 countries, the founda- Invitations to special events tions have been laid for a strong, lively and Special rates at Würzburg’s largest wineries diverse network. And much more! By registering to become a member of the Alumni Network you open the door to many pos- More information on the Alumni Network: sibilities: www.alumni.uni-wuerzburg.de/en Maintain contact with old friends and col- Register to become the newest member of leagues and gain new ones the alumni network: Stay in touch with the university go.uniwue.de/registration Take part in the Alumni mentoring pro- Membership Alumni Association: gramme www.alumni.uni-wuerzburg.de/en w Become Get invited to class, semester and regional a Member of the Alumni Association group meetings in and outside of Würzburg Contact Get invited to various events Alumni Uni Würzburg Receive the quarterly newsletter Sanderring 2 Receive information on famous alumni 97070 Würzburg Phone +49 (0)931/31 83150 [email protected]
62 Traditional German Christmas market in the city centre of Würzburg Bild: Elmar Hahn Bild: Elmar
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 63 Appendix
Campus Hubland Nord
https://www.openstreetmap.org
64 Campus Hubland South
https://www.openstreetmap.org
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 65 University Röntgenring
https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/sonstiges/lageplan/lageplaene-zum-download/ https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/sonstiges/lageplan/lageplaene-zum-download/
66 University Sanderring
https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/sonstiges/lageplan/lageplaene-zum-download/
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 67 Universtiy Hospital Grombühl
https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/sonstiges/lageplan/lageplaene-zum-download/
68 List of terms often found in advertisements for rent or purchase of flats or houses
German term German term and abbreviation English equivalent and abbreviation English equivalent
1. Obergeschoss (1. OG) first floor Erstbezug (EB) first occupancy (new) 2 rooms plus kitchen and 2 ZKB Fahrradraum / Fahrradkeller bike storage bathroom 2. Obergeschoss (2. OG) second floor Ferienhaus (FeHa) vacation house
Abstellraum storage room Festpreis (FP) fixed price
Altbau older building Flur hallway
Angebot offer frei ab available as of
Anzahlung down payment frei ab sofort available immediately Ausstattung appointments (facilities / freistehend free-standing / non attached furniture) Garage garage Backofen oven Garten garden Bad(ezimmer) bathroom Gartenmitbenutzung shared garden Badewanne bath tub gehoben (geh.) above average Balkon balcony gepflegt (GEPFL.) well-cared for barrierefrei handicapped access Haustiere pets Baujahr (BJ) year the house was built Jahresmiete (JM) annual rent bezugsfertig (bezugsf.) ready for occupancy jährlich annual Dachgeschoss (DG) attic floor Kabelanschluss cable connection Doppelhaushälfte (DHH) semi-detached house cold rent / rent excluding Kaltmiete (KM) Dreifamilienhaus (3FH) 3-family house service charges Dusche (DU) shower Kaufpreis (KP) selling price Kaution/2 MM Kaut. security / security deposit of Eigentumswohnung condo / condominium 2 months’ rent Einbauküche (EBK) built-in kitchen Keller basement, cellar
Einfamilienhaus single-family house kinderfreundlich kids welcome Einliegerwohnung (ELW) small apartment in a house / granny flat Kinderzimmer children’s room Elektro Heizung (E.-Hzg.) electric heating Kochnische kitchenette
Erdgeschoss (EG) ground floor Küche kitchen
erlaubt (erl.) permitted, allowed Kühlschrank refrigerator
Welcome to Julius-Maximilians-Universität 69 German term German term and abbreviation English equivalent and abbreviation English equivalent
Laminat laminate Spülmaschine dishwasher
Makler real estate agent Stadtteil part of town
Mehrfamilienhaus (MFH) multi-family building Telefonanschluss phone connection
Mehrwertsteuer (Mwst.) value added tax (VAT) Teppichboden carpeted floor
Miete rent Terrasse terrace rental contract / lease Tiefgaragenstellplatz parking space in an Mietvertrag agreement underground car park möbliert (MÖBL.) furnished Trockner dryer
Nach Vereinbarung (n.V.) as agreed Umzugsunternehmen relocation services
Nebenkosten (NK) incidental expenditures / unmöbliert unfurnished additional costs, such as heating (“Heizung”), water Verhandlungsbasis (VB) negotiable (“Wasser”), stairwell cleaning Verkehrsanbindung transport connection (“Treppenhausreinigung”), waste collection (“Müll- Vermieter landlord abfuhr”) etc. voll möbliert fully-furnished Neubau modern building warm rent / rent including Warmmiete (WM) neuwertig (neuw.) like new heating
Nichtraucher non-smoker Waschmaschine washing machine
Obergeschoss (OG) upper floor WC water closet / toilet
Parkett parquet flooring WLAN Wifi
Parkplatz parking space Wohnbezirk / Stadtviertel district / location
Provision commission Wohneinheit (WE) living unit Wohngemeinschaft (WG) shared flat / flat-sharing provisionsfrei no commission fee community Quadratmeter (qm or m²) square metres Wohnzimmer living room
Raum Würzburg in the Würzburg area / region Zentrale Lage central location
Reihenhaus (RH) town house Zentralheizung (ZH) central heating
renoviert / saniert renovated / remodeled Zimmer room(s)
ruhig (RUH.) quiet zuzüglich (zzgl.) not including / plus
Schöne Aussicht great view Zweifamilienhaus (2FH) 2-family house
70
Welcome to the University of Würzburg 73 “Foreign Scientist Uni Würzburg” for international guests at the University of Würzburg
The group for the support of international scien- For more details, please refer to: tists and scholars has been active since 1984. It https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/universitaet/ provides a platform for international researchers gaeste-stadt-region/gaeste/akad0/ from all faculties to meet local Würzburg families as well as other guest researchers from many dif- Contact ferent countries. The members are always happy [email protected] to help the university’s guests get settled in https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/welcome Würzburg and set the foundation for a rewarding centre/ w Information for International Employees experience in Germany. w Contact and Socializing The group meets every second Wednesday at the cafeteria of the university’s international guesthouse. In addition, the association regular- ly organizes visits to museums, galleries or con- certs in Würzburg as well as day trips to other attractions in the region. If there is anything spe- cific our international guests would like to see or do, we look forward to their suggestions. People of many different nationalities take part in the activities – they are also welcome to bring their partners and children. Many of our guests have enjoyed the participation in these activities and still talk about their wonderful ex- periences. They stay in touch with the group after they have returned to their home countries and visit us every time they return to Würzburg. All new visitors receive a warm welcome and can always find a sympathetic ear.
Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg [email protected] Welcome Centre www.presse.uni-wuerzburg.de Sanderring 2 www.facebook.com/uniwue 97070 Würzburg www.twitter.com/Uni_Wue Tel: +49 (0)931/31 84356 www.instagram.com/uniwuerzburg [email protected] www.uni-wuerzburg.de/welcomecentre